3 Ondo Poly Students Shot as Students Police Clash
Three students of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO) formerly known as Ondo State Polytechnic Owo have been reportedly shot during a fracas between students and the state police command at the Owo local government area of Ondo State.
According to DailyPost the victims were accidentally shot during the clash which erupted as when a private car of a police officer allegedly hit two students. And the police were accused of abandoning the victims after the car crash. The students then embarked on a protest to the Police Station, B Division at Otapete.
At the station, the police used tear gas and sporadic shooting in an attempt to disperse the protesting students. The victims were reportedly hit by the bullets
This aggravated the students and hit the protest up as the students destroyed cars parked at the stations and to took to the streets destroying residents’ properties.
Eyewitnesses also reported that the students burnt tyres at the main gate of the school, White House and Fasawe area, which are known as ‘students’ areas’.
The police took control of the situation when they brought in an armoured tank to clear all blocked roads.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph confirmed the story while alleging that the students attacked the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Akande and that he was presently on a critical condition.
He added that the students were not truthful when they blamed the police for hitting and abandoning their colleagues.
The Polytechnic’s Director of Information Protocol and Public Relations Unit (IPPPR) Mr. Olumide Olugosi, however, said no loss of any student’s life was recorded during the protest.
