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The University of Benin was on Thursday thrown into pandemonium when some soldiers attached to the Army Supply and Transport (S&T) Barracks, Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo, caused a drama cum disruption and assault on some students of UNIBEN.
Findings show that the soldiers escaped being lynched by the students after an argument ensued when the soldiers tried to jump the queue at the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) inside the institution’s premises.
The students who felt cheated by the act decided to stop the soldiers and a fracas ensued on the institution’s premises.
The soldiers, according to eyewitnesses who spoke on the drama were said to have had an altercation with the students over whose turn to withdraw from ATM, owned by one of the banks at the university premises.
Trouble, it was learned started, when the students who had queued for the withdrawal resisted the army personnel from jumping the guns to withdraw at the expense of the students who had stayed for hours to get paid
One of the students who spoke on condition of anonymity said the soldiers are in the habit of doing it
“But yesterday (Thursday) when they came again and wanted to do the same thing, the student resisted them,” an eyewitness who did not want his name mentioned said.
While the heated arguments lasted between the students and the military officers, the Chief Security Officer, CSO, of the institution was said to have moved to the scene, apparently with a view to intervening when he got assaulted by the soldiers who they claimed slapped the CSO.
The development, according to the source heightened the already tense atmosphere as the students in their numbers pounced on the soldiers with one of them reportedly sustaining injury.
The aggrieved students afterwards barricaded Ugbowo-Lagos Expressway and halt vehicular movements for several hours, as all routes leading to and fro the UNIBEN main gate were stalled in protest against the soldiers’ action.
It took the intervention of some spirited Nigerians and the Deputy Police Officer, DPO, Ugbowo division to appease the irate students to allow movement around the axis.
When contacted, the Police spokesperson in the State, SP Chidi Nwabuzor said he was in Abuja and could not give details but ASP Jennifer Iwegbu, confirmed the incident.
ASP Iwegbu said peace was restored after several appeals to the student but claimed that the students want a phone belonging to one of the unnamed students that were smashed on the ground fixed to end the gruel.
UNIBEN Management Reacts
In a swift reaction, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Lilian Salami in a statement on Friday, lamented the “unfortunate incident” and sued for calm, assuring that efforts are being made to avert a reoccurrence in future.
“The situation has been brought under control and the Management of the University is in discussions with the hierarchy of the S & T for amicable resolution,” she said.
The unfortunate incident of the clash between some students of our university and soldiers on Thursday 2nd February, resulting from alleged resistance of students to the soldiers’ attempt to jump ATM cues on campus has been brought under control and the Management of the University is in discussions with the hierarchy of the S & T for amicable resolution.
The Management acknowledges that these are challenging times for everyone and enjoins all to remain calm while efforts are being made to avert a re- occurrence.
Management also calls on the students to constantly engage dialogue in resolving issues that concern them rather than taking to protests, at any provocation, thereby causing more injury and damage to themselves and other citizens.
