UPDATED:
Olorunfemi Adeyeye, Phillips Olatinwo, Giwa Temitope, and Ayodele Aduwo, who, early hours of today were, previously arrested at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) by the Lagos State Police Command during a peaceful protest against the increase in UNILAG tuition fees, have been released.
Earlier, TOWN CRIER reported that the students had gathered at the university’s gate to demand the reversal of the fee increase imposed by the university authorities. The police fired tear gas at the peaceful protesters and then arrested the student leaders.
Gbenga Oloniniran reports that after the students, who were coming from Sabo area of Yaba to the campus were dispersed by policemen who fired teargas canister at them, they later regrouped and moved towards the gate.
They were prevented from moving closer by the policemen who cordoned off the area.
Speaking on behalf of the students, Balogun Oladeji Ibrahim, the President-Elect of the Faculty of Education Students Association, accused the Area Commander, whose name he gave as ACP Ayodeji A, of ordering his men to shoot at them and that he also arrested their colleagues.
Meanwhile in a conversation with TOWN CRIER, one of the arrested student leaders and Co-Convener of Students Against Fee Hike, ‘Femi Adeyeye, confirmed their release and stated, “Yes, it’s true. We have been released. However, it is important to emphasize that this is just the beginning of our determined struggle against the unjustifiable fee hike. There is no economic logic that justifies imposing such fees on Nigerians, not to mention the lack of accountability within the university’s administration.”
He further added, “The student congress will convene within the next 48 hours to review the outcomes of today’s peaceful demonstration and decide on the next course of action. But let me assure you, we are not backing down, and our collective spirit cannot be broken!”
The UNILAG authority, in July 2023, increased fees citing the “prevailing economic reality” as a reason for the hike.