In his combatant uniform, the unfortunate soldier was pushed, kicked and trampled over by students who forced him to lie on the ground for allegedly trying to jump the ATM queue.
The clash between some angry students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and a lone soldier on Thursday at an ATM queue inside the institution’s Ugbowo campus took a twist on Friday, as over 30 military operatives allegedly invaded the school and destroyed about 34 vehicles.
The SUG President of the Federal University of Benin, Foster Amadin, disclosed what transpired between the Soldiers and the Uniben Students a few days ago that compelled the school to be in the news. Amadin speaking in an interview, stated that the Soldiers violated the rights of one of the students, which led to escalated violence inside the school.
He alleged that what stirred up the emotions was when the Soldiers slapped the University Chief Security Officer when he was trying to understand the situation.
The SUG President pointed out that they never anticipated the Soldiers to attack the school in the middle of the Night. He alleged that all the school security men were macheted by the soldiers in the middle of the Night. And the number of cars parked in the school was destroyed by the military men.
According to Amadin, it was as though Bandits had attacked them in the Night. However, he identified that their saving grace came from the Vice Chancellor, who made a few calls.
He said, “Students were at the ATM inside the school trying to make a withdrawal, and some military personnel came and asked them to leave the queue. These students felt this sense of entitlement that this was their school, they felt pretty embarrassed, but they allowed the soldiers to withdraw and respected their uniform.
A lady was with her phone, and they alleged she was videoing them. They took the iPhone 14 and smashed it on the ground. While the girl tried to defend herself, they called a female soldier to slap her, and she was beaten and harassed by the female soldier. The Lady ran to the security unit and explained that her phone had been smashed.
Getting there, the security officer tried to address the situation, but he was also slapped. The whole thing led to resentment, and the students were angry. The Soldiers were trying to get back at the students. So we locked the school gate and stayed behind the school premises.
But to our greatest despair, at about 12 am, when the school gate was already locked, we started hearing gunshots, and the soldiers came with full force. Our school security men were macheted, some are currently in the University of Benin Teaching hospital, and about 40 vehicles were destroyed. The whole scene got us scared. We prayed and sang. Gratefully, the Vice Chancellor made one or two calls that saved the day.”
In a statement she personally signed Thursday evening, the University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami, called for calm while efforts were being made to avert a re-occurrence.
“The 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,” Salami had said.
SUG President Narrates The True Story: Uniben
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