Protesting Auchi Poly students destroy 50 vehicles, buildings

Students of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi (Auchi Poly), Edo State, yesterday went on the rampage and destroyed property estimated to run into several millions of naira.

The students, protesting the “no school fees, no exam” policy of the institution, torched some buildings and vehicles while they torched others. 
They also damaged other valuables. Also damaged was the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) news crew vehicle.
At the end, over 50 structures and vehicles were said to have been destroyed. The protest was said to have erupted among the students of the Part Time Studies (PTS).
The protesters took over the ever-busy Auchi-Benin Expressway and caused gridlock which kept motorists and commuters stranded for many hours. Some students were injured as police and security officials of the institution tried to disperse the protesters.
It was learnt that the incident started at the second campus of the institution, Philipa Idogho Campus, where the students were said to have been denied access to the examination hall to sit for their first semester examinations which started on Tuesday.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the polytechnic, Mustapha Oshiobugie, said the school had been shut indefinitely. He said: “Students of the School of Part Time Studies (SPATS) were instructed to pay their school fees and register before they can write their first semester examination.
Those who did not comply went on the rampage and disrupted activities on campus. The destruction was massive as several vehicles were destroyed.
“Clearly there was no death recorded but management had to shut down the school.” It was also learnt that the affected students, who managed to sit for their examination the previous day had their scripts torn by invigilators.
The students said they were prevented from sitting for the examinations by the management because they were yet to pay school fees. One of the students, who pleaded anonymity, said they were protesting because the school authorities prevented them from sitting for the first semester examination.
He said: “The management did not allow us into the examination hall on the grounds that we are yet to pay our fees. The school management is not fair to us and we want the policy reversed.”
http://newtelegraphonline.com/protesting-auchi-poly-students-destroy-50-vehicles-buildings/