Fed Poly Ado Ekiti shut indefinitely over students rampage

Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti

The Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, was on Sunday shut down indefinitely following violent protest by students over alleged death of two of them in mysterious health circumstances.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that trouble began on the institution’s campus late Friday, when two of its students reportedly complained of malaria fever.

They were said to have been rushed to the polytechnic Health Centre for treatment but their condition later aggravated, allegedly leading to their death in the early hours of Saturday.

Campus sources revealed to our correspondent that on learning of the news that their colleagues had died, the students quickly mobilized themselves and marched to the Health Centre, and burnt it down.

Apart from also destroying some other property on sight, the students blocked all roads leading to and from the institution and disallowed free movement of vehicles along the road.

One of the students who asked not to be mentioned decried the attitude of the polytechnic to their welfare and wellbeing.

He alleged that each time any of them was sick, the only drug available at the health centre was paracetamol.

According to him, the same negative attitude repeated itself when the two students were taken to the centre, alleging that rather than treat them with effective malaria drugs or injection, the only drug offered them was paracetamo

Though the polytechnic authorities did not confirm whether any student actually died, the Registrar, Mrs. Sade Adediran, in a statement, announced the immediate and indefinite closure of the school.

The statement warned that any student found on campus after the closure would be apprehended and made to face the consequences.