Tuition hike protest: One student killed in Kaduna

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given Governor Nasir El-Rufai 21 days to reverse the increase in school fees ahead of its National congress slated for July 19, 2021.

Their warning was coming as a student of College of Education, Gidan Waya, Kafanchan was allegedly shot dead by security operatives during a peaceful protest over a hike in tuition fee on Monday.

The National President of NANS, Comrade Sunday Asefon, who received the news registered his anger over the incident.

Findings by Tribune Online gathered that a peaceful protest was said to have been organised on Monday by the students of the College of Education, Gidan Waya, against a hike in their tuition fees.

Unfortunately, it was gathered it turned out to be violent resulting in the death of a student allegedly killed by security agencies while another student was injured.

An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said that the security operatives fired shots to disperse the protesting students following a confrontation after they tried to force their way into the school.

He said the students also blocked the highway in front of the school thereby preventing the free flow of traffic.

However, the Provost of the College, Prof Alexander Kure, who confirmed the development to journalists on Monday said: “The incident happened on the highway and not inside the school. I was told by the security that one student was killed and another injured.

“I offered an ambulance to take the corpse to the mortuary, and the other person that got injured to the hospital for treatment.

Professor Kure said the school was shut on Sunday for a mid-semester break, noting that he was not aware of the reason for the students’ protest.

“The school was shut down yesterday for mid-semester break and students are to resume next Monday. I don’t know why they were protesting. The school was closed and we heard there was a protest on the road, and I am not privy to happenings outside the school,” he added

However, efforts to reach the Kaduna State Police Command PPRO, ASP Mohammad Jalige, was not successful as he was not returning phone calls to his phone.

Meanwhile, the National President of NANS, said the Association will deliberate on the incident at the College of Education also added that all organ and sister bodies of NANS nationwide have been put on alert to relocate to Kaduna State to further press home there from the state government.

He then said that the governor “should be ready to kill as many of us as he can through thugs and security and also build enough jail within the 21days that can accommodate thousands of Nigerian students.”

While addressing the press in Kaduna, Asefon rejected the attempt by the government of Kaduna State, the Kaduna State University, or any other tertiary institutions in the state to force an undertaken on parents and guardian of the varsity students to remain in perpetual silence irrespective of the unfavourable policies of the government.

He added: “The National congress meeting will hold in Kaduna on July 19, 2021. All organ and sister bodies of NANS nationwide are by this resolution put on alert to relocate to Kaduna State to this important national congress to further ascertain the cooperation and adherence to our demands by the government of Kaduna State.

“That the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, should consider this window period of 21 days’ notice of national congress as enough window to pacify Nigerian students or be ready to kill as many of us as he can through thugs and security and also build enough jail within the 21 days that can accommodate thousands of Nigerian students.

“While we pray for the prosperity of Kaduna State, we will not be threatened or intimidated to close our eyes to these evil policies and the fragrant display of tyranny against our students and members as injury to one is an injury to all.”

He noted that NANS rejects in totality the recent spate of 1000 per cent increment of schools fees and other related fees in state-owned tertiary institutions in Kaduna State saying, “We consider such increment at this time as insensitive, unreasonable, and unrealistic.”

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