LASU: VC escapes death, seven students injured as police, students clash

The Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Ojo, Prof. John Obafunwa, and his Personal Assistant on Thursday narrowly escaped being lynched by angry students protesting the shutting down of the registration portal of the school when they had not finished registering for the second semester.
Seven students were also injured by the police, while two among them are at the Ikeja General Hospital on oxygen, battling to stay alive.
According to one of the police sources that rushed the students to the hospital, the two students who are on oxygen had been described by doctors as being “on danger list”.
The students were said to have been injured after the police responded to Obafunwa’s distress calls and rushed to the school in an attempt to save the VC and his PA.
The clash started in the early hours of Thursday after some of the students who had not registered discovered that others were writing exams.
Obafunwa had disclosed that only 708 students completed their registration before the deadline and only that number would be allowed to write the second semester examination.
At about 5pm on Thursday, the area was swarming with anti-riot policemen.
There were also on the scene 30 Rapid Response Squad vans and two Armoured Personnel Carriers.
A circular had been immediately distributed by the school management, shutting down the school indefinitely.
According to an eyewitness account, the students and police clashed after the police tried to snatch the VC from the students.
One of the students, identified as Adeyerin Adijat, who was part of those injured and receiving treatment at the school’s health centre, insisted that the policemen fired canisters of tear gas at the protesting students.
The Area ‘E’ Commander in charge of the Ojo area, ACP Dan Okoro, however, denied that his men touched the students.
According to Okoro, the students sustained severe injuries while using their bare hands to break window louvers to the VC’s office and the windscreens of the cars of Obafunwa and his PA.
Another eyewitness said that the trouble started on Wednesday after students discovered that the registration portal had been closed and they would not be able to partake in the school’s examination, which started on Thursday.
The eyewitness said: “The students had paid the exorbitant school fees, but many had not registered for their courses.
“Many of them went to plead with the VC on Wednesday and went back there today.
“One of the students prostrated on the ground, holding unto the VC and begging him to reconsider them.
“The man just kicked him, fueling the anger of other students.
“They attacked the VC and his PA.
“They damaged his office and his car.”
It was gathered that one of the students’ head was smashed in the mayhem.
This particular student is among the duo said to be on danger list.
Five among the seven injured students were treated at the school’s health centre and allowed to go home.
The students were said to have been confronted by policemen from Ojo, Okoko and Ajangbadi Police Stations.