FCET Akoka attack: Police arrest 32 suspects

The Police in Lagos, yesterday arrested 32 suspects following an alleged attack on a team set up by the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman to mediate the ongoing impasse involving the tenure of the provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Dr Ademola Azeez.

For over three months, staff of the institution locked out their Provost, depriving him use of his office.

The Guardian gathered that a team set up by the Minister of Education arrived at the school yesterday from Abuja, to mediate the ongoing impasse, but staff of the college aided by students attacked them, damaging over five vehicles and the Provost’s official quarters.

Spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin added that the rioting staff and students also blocked all entrances in and out of the college.

“The police arrived at the scene and restored normalcy after being attacked with stones and sachets of water by the rioters.

“Meanwhile, 32 suspects have been arrested while men of the Nigeria Police Force from Area Command, Surulere remain on ground to ensure that the restored peace remains intact,” he explained.

The two-month-old crisis rocking FCET, Akoka, also took a new twist recently when operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) arrested one of the leaders of the Concerned Staff group.

One of the leaders of Concerned Staff, Augustine Nwachukwu, said the SSS operatives stormed the official quarters of a Deputy Registrar, Mr Chris Olamiju, at about 3:00 a.m. and arrested him.

According to Nwachukwu, the armed security personnel broke through the iron gate and door, whisking Olamiju away in the presence of his wife and children without explanation.

Nwachukwu, who is the chairman of the Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education (SSUCOEN), alleged that the SSS operatives fired shots before forcibly taking away the deputy registrar.

Since May 2024, FCET Akoka workers have protested on campus, demanding the removal of the Provost.

They claimed his tenure ended two months ago and are calling for the Federal Government to appoint an acting provost.