NANS to storm Kaduna as provost confirms student’s death

•Attack on soldiers led to casualties, say police
•SOKAPU seeks emergency in state to avert anarchy

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State 21 days to address the increase in the tuition fees at Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya, ahead of its national congress slated for July 19, 2021.

NANS also registered its displeasure over the killing of a student protesting against the increment. A peaceful protest was reportedly organised, yesterday, by the students of the college against a planned hike in their tuition fee, which turned violent, as one student was killed and another injured by security operatives.

A witness, who pleaded anonymity, said the security operatives fired shots to disperse the protesting students as the students blocked the highway in front of the school.

The Provost of the College, Prof. Alexander Kure, was reported to have confirmed the fatality.

ON the casualties, the Kaduna Police Command said the protest became bloody when the students waylaid a military commander and soldier, and the officers opened fire on them, leading to fatality.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mohammed Jalige, said: “On Monday, June 28, 2021 about 0800hrs, the command was informed of the protest by students of College of Education, GidanWaya, Kafanchan. It immediately dispatched operatives to restore normalcy.

“About 0930hrs, information has it that the students re-converged again and blocked the Gidan Waya–Kafanchan federal highway and were becoming unruly. They attacked the convoy of a military commander injuring him and one other. Three protesters were injured in the attempt to use minimal force to disperse the riotous students.”

SOUTHERN Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has called on the Federal Government to immediately impose a state of emergency in the state to prevent anarchy.

Besides, the socio-cultural group condemned the use of live bullets by the police to disperse the protesting students.
SOKAPU spokesman, Luka Binniyat, called on the Federal Government to immediately impose a state of emergency in Kaduna to save it and the country from anarchy.

Binniyat said: “SOKAPU is of the view that some of el-Rufai’s policies in this last term of office looks like misnomer.

“We, in SOKAPU, believe that some of the governor’s policies, particularly towards workers, students and the poor generally need critical attention.”