The College of Education, Gindiri in Plateau State has been shut down following a violent protest by students that burnt down the school’s clinic and six vehicles, including two ambulances.
The students, who were angry over the non-issuance of examination identity cards, also destroyed some classrooms and hostels.
A source from the school told newsmen that the students, who had paid for identity cards to be used for the writing of the second semester examination scheduled to start on Monday, February 26, became wild when the cards were not issued to them.
It was gathered that the students had waited for the cards as promised by the school management, but got impatient when the cards were not forthcoming few days to the examinations.
Terna Tyopev, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Plateau State, who confirmed the violence, said that nobody was injured in the fracas.
“The ugly incident started as a peaceful protest by the students who were angry over management’s inability to issue school identity cards they had earlier paid for.
“The protest later turned violent and led to wanton destruction of school property,” he said.
Tyopev said that calm had been restored to the institution, and cautioned students against taking the law into their hands.
Meanwhile, the Plateau Head of Service, Izang Azi, has condemned the violence and expressed surprise that a “small issue” involving identity cards was allowed to degenerate to such violence.
He said that the school had been shut down to avoid further damage.
The spokesperson of the institution, Elizabeth Aboreng, confirmed shutting of the school.
She said the decision by the manageme
nt was to curtail further destruction of property.
In reaction to the protest, Aboreng said, “We ran for our lives, the students were violent,” she said.
“The institution’s internal security could not contain the situation, they (students) burnt down our school clinic with two ambulances. They also destroyed and set ablaze six other cars belonging to staff.
“We had to invite security agencies, but they had already caused the havoc. The shutting of the institution is indefinite till further notice,” she said.
Comments
