Police arrest three as Kogi students protest continued closure of schools

MEN of the Kogi state command of the Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Army on Monday clamped down on students of tertiary institutions in the state that were protesting the continued closure of their schools.

At least three of the students were arrested during the peaceful protest that took place at the NATACO  junction of the Lokoja- Abuja highway.

The students had mobilised themselves to the major roads as early as 7.15 am, expressing their readiness to return to school.

The protest tagged “reopen our school movement” saw the student chanting “we want to go back to school”, ” we are not here for violence “.

The students also displayed placards with inscriptions like “We are tired of staying at home, 2015 and 2016 students have missed the first batch of NYSC mobilidation and please Re open our institution”.

However as the students continued with the protest, blocking the highway, men of the police were drafted to the scene to maintain decorum.

But after sometime, men of the Nigerian Army allegedly molested the students by beating them with horse whip and sticks.

The students however reconvened planning to go on a procession before an Inspector when three of them, including a lady were arrested.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Aya, while confirming the arrest, said three people were arrested.

He said the students were dislodged because they were blocking a major highway that linked the north and the south.

The police image maker said the arrested people were being screened to ascertain their status whether they are truly students or not.

Aya said the authorities of the schools they claimed to have attended would be invited for proper identification.

It would be recalled that higher institutions have been closed since January 31, 2017 when the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the institutions called for strike over the negative effects of the ongoing staff screening exercise embarked upon by the state government.