LASU students protest maltreatment by soldiers during elections

By Gabriel Dike, Lagos

Students of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo on Monday staged a protest over the maltreatment of their colleagues by soldiers during the presidential election on Saturday, February 25.

The early morning protest, which was led by officials of the Lagos State Students Union (LASUSU), led to the closure of the two main gates of the university and it affected human and vehicular movement into the campus.

The LASU students union demanded the university management to address the issues in contention after the face-off with the the military personnel.

Daily Sun gathered that during the Saturday, February 25th, 2023 presidential election, soldiers assaulted some students including LASUSU officials on the campus.

The university management stepped in and resolved the conflict and also promised to address some of the issues raised by the students union.

The Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the Dean, Students Affairs, Prof Tajudeen Olumoko, and some management met the students’ union officials met last week Tuesday and promised to address certain demands tabled b the aggrieved LASUSU officials.

Following the non-implementation of their demands, LASUSU officials organized students early Monday morning and began protest on campus and shut the two gates of the institution.

It was further gathered that the protesting demanded the university management take action to ensure the safety and security of students on campus.

According a student, the LASU management assured the students that it would investigate the assault and take appropriate action while the students were advised to remain calm.

The Dean, Students Affairs, Prof. Tajudeen Olumoko, denied that Monday protest was as a result of a new assault on any students, adding, there was an incident between our students and some soldiers during the presidential election and it was resolved by the university management.’’

Prof. Olumoko confirmed that the university management had addressed the issues but the students union were not aware and decided to shut the gates.

The dean said he addressed the students’ union officials on management decision and the gates were opened for human and vehicular traffic.