By David Olalekan.
A police officer and two students of the Federal University Oye Ekiti, FUOYE, reportedly lost their lives yesterday in a violent clash between students and security operatives.
The students were said to have barricaded the expressway, having marched to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) substation in Oye Ekiti in protest of insufficient power supply.
The students were also reported to have prevented the convoy of the Ekiti State First Lady, Mrs Bisi Fayemi from passing, which led to a confrontation between the policeman in her convoy and the students.
According to a source who spoke to newsmen, “They (students) started the protest from the school gate around 9am, and then moved to the PHCH substation.
“They were trying to force their way into the facility when a dispatch of policemen came. The students appeared to have outnumbered the policemen and before we knew it, gunshots were exchanged between the policemen and some of the students who are suspected to be cultists.
“One of the policemen and two students were killed and others sustained injuries.”
In his reaction, the state police spokesperson, Caleb Ikechukwu denied allegations that the officers shot at the protesting students.
“The protesting students took to the Federal highway away from the perimeter wall of the University and blocked the Oye-Ikole-Lokoja Federal Roads, thereby causing breach of peace and grid lock to motorists plying that route.
“The protesting students also invaded the office of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in Oye Ekiti.
“It took the quick intervention of policemen deployed to the scene to prevent further damage of the office complex.
“The Police Officers at the scene pacified with the protesting students, removed the blockade and dispersed the protesting students peacefully.
“However, the protesting students turned around in their numbers and took their plight to Her Excellency, Erulu Bisi Fayemi, the wife of the Executive Governor of Ekiti State who was at an empowerment program.
“The protesting students suddenly became unruly, hostile and took laws into their hands, also vandalized the motorcade of her excellency”, Ikechukwu said in a statement on Tuesday.