By Gabriel Dike
Less than 24 hours after a violent protest by students of the Federal College of Education (FCET) Technical, Akoka on Monday, the Federal Government has directed the indefinite closure of the institution.
Daily Sun learnt that the decision of the government was conveyed to the Chairman, Governing Council, Olatunde Adenuga, by the minister of education.
On Monday, the students went on a rampage, destroyed cars and other properties after armed policemen stormed the college, fired live bullets, teargas and arrested staff and union leaders.
The students sealed the office of the college Provost, Ademola Azeez, last week, and took their protest to the main road to draw the attention of the public.
The students’ parliament, in June, impeached their president for writing a letter to the minister of education, accusing workers of disrupting academic activities without the approval of student executives.
They joined the protesting staff unions to demand the sack of Azeez and his exclusion from any governing council meeting.
A student, who sustained bullet injury is recuperating at a private hospital while two female students, seen in a viral video of the protest gasping for breadth, were discharged, yesterday, from the hospital.
Before the 3pm deadline to vacate the campus, many students complied with the directive and have left the campus.
Daily Sun learnt officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) met with the Lagos State commissioner of police to resolve the case.
Meanwhile, 32 arrested staff members and students were, yesterday, arraigned at Yaba Magistrates Court.
The suspects were brought to court by armed policemen in four commercial buses. The suspects were slammed with five count-charges, which was later reduced to four.
After a brief sitting, the female chief magistrate granted the suspects bail and adjourned the case to another date.
Family members and union leaders, including NANS were in court to observe proceedings.
Two lawyers from the staff unions and NANS were on ground to secure the release of the 32 suspects.
However, in a dramatic twist, the commissioner of police withdrew the case from the court and the suspects were taken to Surulere Area Command to write an undertaking of good behaviour.