Unilag students storm Lagos House, protest rustication, detention of union leaders

Hundreds of University of Lagos students on Wednesday stage a peaceful protest to the Lagos state House over an alleged illegal detention and rustication of their colleagues by the Police and the university authorities respectively.

The protesters who were armed with placards with various inscriptions such as, ‘Nigerian students say no to repression,’ ‘Free our students today,’ ‘We demand the removal of Fatai Owoseni,’ ‘Nigerian students say no to rustication of students’ leaders in Unilag,’ and ‘Free rusticated Unilag 13’ chanted different solidarity songs which attracted the attention of Governor Akinwumi Ambode.

One of the leaders of the protesters, Mr. Juwon Sanya-Olu, alleged that the students’ leaders were beaten, arrested and remanded for protesting against the high handedness of the school management.

Sanya Olu, who is the Secretary, Save Unilag Coalition, called on Governor Ambode to intervene and ensure the release of the affected incarcerated students union members as well as reinstatement of those rusticated.

“We know Ambode as a scholar and alumnus of Unilag, he should not be silent on this injustice, he should intervene

“Two of us were rusticated for no just cause, and some of our members, who went to TVC to hold a press conference on this injustice, were arrested and detained when they returned to school.

“Since Saturday, our colleagues have been kept in Kirikiri prison with thugs and hired assassins. Why should innocent Nigerians who are asking questions on fundamental rights of students be detained?”

“This is bad, we request the governor to break his silence and come to the aid of the students who were asking questions on inadequate hostels, accommodation fees and others,” Sanya Olu stated.

Also speaking, Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Lagos state chapter, Moses Adewale, said: “We so much have confidence in Gov. Ambode as a man of character.

“Our governor should not keep quiet at this time when Nigerians students are being oppressed and suppressed. We want him to intervene.”

Meanwhile, in a statement submitted to the governor, Adewale traced the history of the crisis in the university to April 6, 2016.

According to him, the issue started when the students of the school, led by the students’ union leaders, staged a peaceful protest to decry management’s nonchalant attitude towards living conditions of students on campus.

“Management Neo- colonialism of the University of Lagos Students Union (ULSU)- NANS JCC Lagos calls on Lagos State Government’s Intervention.

“We want the welfare issues range from academic welfare, hostel welfare, scarcity and high cost of sachet water on campus and high cost of commodities on campus addressed.

“The students overtime have been forced to endure this many poor conditions including epileptic power supply with no apparent reason from the management.

“Instead, the students were told that since poor power supply is a national issue, that they do not have any reason to protest or better still, they should go to Abuja or Aso rock and complain to Buhari,” Adewale explained.

Addressing the protesters, Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relation, Mr. Seye Oladejo, urged the protesters to supply the government with relevant information needed to intervene.

“We symphathise with you on whatever that led to the remand of you colleagues. We however, need relevant information on what led to the arrest and the list of the affected students for us to address it.

“We are interested in solving this problem that is why His Excellency, Gov. Ambode sent two of us. We need you to provide us what transpired. What we can assure you is that we are ready to solve whatever that brought you here,” Oladejo assured.