Protest: Bowen student vandalise 20 vehicles, loot shops

Students of the Bowen University,
Iwo,Osun State protested against power
outage and lack of water supply in one
of the new hostels in the school on
Thursday.
No fewer than 20 vehicles were
damaged by the students who were also
said to have looted some shops on the
campus.
The Public Relations Officer of the
university, Mr. Gboyega Aderoju, told
our correspondent that although the
situation had been brought under
control, the school had been shut down
till April 1.
He said that 10 students were arrested
in connection with the looting, but
added that they had been released after
the police had taken their identities.
He said, "The university has been closed
until April 1 as a result of the crisis.
About 20 vehicles were damaged during
the protest, while the police arrested 10
students.
"They were protesting an electrical fault
in one of the floors in a hostel. They
were watching football match when this
happened and they trooped out to
protest against it. Few of them started
it and forced others to join."
Our correspondent learnt that the
students, who were also angry about
their restriction by the school authority,
trooped out to protest against the new
schedule which stipulated that all
students must leave their hostels by
8am irrespective of whether they have
lectures or not and should not return to
the hostel until 4pm.
It was learnt that the students were
watching a UEFA champions' match on
Wednesday night when the light went
out.
One of the students of the university
told our correspondent that the protest
started at around 9pm.
He said, "The university management
just released a new time table. We must
go leave the hostel by 8am and stay in
the school area until 4pm.
"Also, the new male hostel does not
have water or electricity supply."
The primary school inside the campus
was said to have been deserted as
parents did not bring their children to
the school on Thursday because of the
protest.
It was gathered that although peace had
been restored to the campus, no lecture
took place on Thursday as the
atmosphere was still tense.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs.
Folasade Odoro, said the students
staged the protest because electricity
supply to the university was restored
after the football match.