An indefinite closure of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka, Lagos, has been ordered by the Governing Council following the violence that erupted on Monday.
Dr. Wahab Azeez, the embattled provost, disclosed the council’s decision to PUNCH Metro in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
The ongoing leadership crisis escalated on Monday when videos surfaced showing protesting students vandalizing the official vehicles of governing council members. The members reportedly narrowly avoided being physically attacked.
Students, in previous interviews with PUNCH Metro, alleged that their protests were a response to poor campus welfare and the treatment received from the provost.
A student, speaking anonymously out of fear of victimization, sent a voice note claiming that police officers “came and started shooting students.” The student further alleged that the school management had invited the police to the campus.
The student alleged, “During the meeting, they started throwing tear gas. The provost ordered them to throw tear gas and they arrested some staff members. They were beating the staff members.”
In a separate interview, the provost claimed that the protesting students were being incited by staff members eyeing his position.
To restore law and order after Monday’s violence, the state police command arrested 32 suspects for allegedly attacking the Federal Government inspection team.
Confirming the arrest in a post on X.com, Benjamin Hundeyin of the state police command stated, “A team set up by the Minister of Education arrived at the school to mediate the ongoing impasse. However, the staff members of the college aided by students attacked the team from Abuja, damaging over five vehicles and the Provost’s official quarters.”
The college remains closed until the investigation is concluded.
The provost explained, “The council is still on the ground. They will decide what line of action to take about the incident. The rampage has to be probed because they need to know the immediate and remote cause of the crisis that led to the vandalization of college property and facilities.”
He added, “They (the governing council) came to have the inaugural meeting of the council. Since the council was inaugurated, the college also elected its six members.”
The closure is attributed in part to some college staffers who reportedly hindered administrative work, resulting in the poor state of the school.