Ado-Ekiti poly shuts down over violent protest by students

The Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti was yesterday closed indefinitely following a violent protest by the students.The protest was caused by alleged death of two students at the institution’s health centre, in circumstances they considered to be negligence.

But the Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande, told The Guardian that: “A student (name withheld) took ill on Friday night and was taken to the health centre. When his condition deteriorated, he was rushed to the teaching hospital in the town where he was stabilised.

“To the shock of the hospital’s officials, a young man, identified later as his elder brother and another student came to forcibly discharge him against medical advice. All pleas to leave him there fell on deaf ears as they claimed they wanted to take him elsewhere.”

“I have no idea where the rumour came from that the student died, but it went round the campus fast and the students went to the medical centre, beat up the doctors in charge and set the place on fire.

“Records, equipment worth millions of naira were destroyed. They didn’t stop there, but also went ahead to our centre for entrepreneurial development, stole over 6000 chickens, cooked and ate them. They destroyed the agriculture and biology centres and stole computers worth millions of naira.”

Akande confirmed that the students had vacated the campus, adding: “We have requested police presence and report, as well as set up a panel to investigate this sad act of utmost vandalism.”

However, a source, who claimed that two students died also told The Guardian that the deceased were rushed to the health centre on Friday after complaining of malaria fever.

He said the students, who also destroyed other property, blocked all roads in and out of the institution after the alleged death.The students lamented that the school authorities have no regard for their welfare, alleging that the only drugs at the health centre is Paracetamol.

Though the polytechnic authorities did not confirm the death, a statement by the Registrar, Mrs. Sade Adediran announced the immediate and indefinite closure of the school.The statement warned that any student found on the campus after the closure would be apprehended and made to face the consequences.