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THE NATION |
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THE NATION |
TARABA State College of Education has been closed down indefinitely, following a violent protest by its students, which resulted in the death of one student with several others injured and property worth millions of naira destroyed.
During the demonstration, the provost’s office and residence, the college administrative building and the state Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) vehicle among others, were vandalised and also set ablaze, just as the state NUJ chairman, Zakari Ali Hassan, narrowly escaped death in the hands of students.
The students took to the streets on Wednesday morning, barricading the federal road which passes through Jalingo for several hours thereby paralysing economic activities in the area.
The students who were said to have among other grievances embarked on a protestover the acute water shortage, lack of electricity and dilapidated structures, at the college marched to the city round leaving bonfires on their trail.
Disturbed by such action, it was gathered that the police attempted to disperse the students, using tear gas.
The situation was said to have degenerated, resulting in the killing of one of the students with several others including journalists injured. The police authority however denied responsibility for the violent twist to the protest.
Efforts to reach the provost, Joshua Garba, proved abortive as no one could ascertain his whereabouts, though members of his family were said to have travelled few days before the crisis.
The police among other security agents have been drafted to the area to keep the peace, just as some students have been arrested in connection with the mayhem.
