The Lagos State Police Command announced the arrest of 32 suspects for their alleged involvement in attacking a Federal Government inspection team at the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Akoka, Lagos.
The situation escalated as students protesting poor welfare conditions on the campus fled from teargas reportedly discharged by police officers on Monday.
An anonymous student shared a voice note claiming that police officers arrived during a school meeting and began shooting at students.
The student accused the school management of inviting the police, mentioning that tear gas was used during the meeting resulting in the arrest and assault of staff members.
Another brief video depicted police officers firing shots in the air within the campus premises.
The college’s Provost, Dr. Wahab Azeez, previously alleged that the protesting students were influenced by staff members coveting his position, a claim refuted by students and some staff.
Students emphasized their dissatisfaction with the college’s facilities and criticized the Provost’s remarks.
In an interview with PUNCH Metro, Wahab stated, “Those protesting students are incited by staff eyeing my position. In my five-year tenure as Provost, I’ve never had issues with students due to my prior experience as a Student Union leader.”
Photographs of deteriorating hostel conditions exposed decaying structures, unkempt surroundings, and inadequate infrastructure.
The Students’ Union Government Speaker, Enoch Oyefara, clarified that the students were concerned about their treatment rather than questioning the Provost’s leadership.
The Provost denied allegations of shooting on campus, stating that students threw stones at him.
He refuted claims of shooting incidents and maintained that the police intervened when his lodge was attacked.
He alleged that students held council members captive for three hours before security forces rescued them.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer did not immediately respond to inquiries, but later confirmed the arrest of 32 suspects linked to the college incident.
According to reports, staff members had locked out the Provost for over three months before the situation escalated on Monday with the arrival of a Ministerial team for mediation.
Police presence restored order after staff and students obstructed entrances and damaged property during the confrontation.
The Students’ Union Secretary General criticized the police for using tear gas in a female hostel, denouncing the extreme measures taken that fueled further unrest.
She urged students to maintain calm and emphasized the importance of restoring peace by dispersing peacefully.