An air of chaos and panic enveloped the Federal College of Education in Akoka, Lagos State, on Monday afternoon as armed policemen stormed the campus, shooting at students and arresting several individuals. The incident resulted in a stampede that left no fewer than 50 students severely injured.
The police officers were reportedly dispatched to halt the inauguration of the institution’s governing council, a move orchestrated by the college provost, Dr. Wahab Azeez Ademola. The provost has been at the center of allegations of corruption and mismanagement of funds, claims that had sparked protests among students and concerned staff members.
For weeks, calls for the immediate establishment of the governing council had grown louder, as many believed it would provide a necessary check on the provost’s power. However, according to sources, Dr. Wahab sought to prevent the council’s inauguration and resorted to threats against staff and student leaders.
The situation escalated when the provost allegedly mobilized armed policemen to disrupt the proceedings. Multiple viral videos captured the harrowing moments when Nigerian policemen fired bullets and teargas at the crowd of students and staff. “The shooting caused a stampede and this led to an unrest situation in the school which made over 300 students run for their lives. One of the students was shot in his hand. The Students’ Union has been able to identify not less than 50 students who are critically injured,” an eyewitness recounted.
The eyewitness further revealed that approximately 30 individuals, including students and staff, were arrested. “The police also arrested about 30 people including students and staff of the school because the provost did not want a system that transparent in the school system,” he added.
In response to the incident, Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesperson for the Lagos Police Command, issued a statement on his X page. Hundeyin claimed that the policemen were deployed to quell violence allegedly instigated by staff and students against the school provost. “For over three months, staff of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka locked out their Provost, depriving him use of his office,” Hundeyin stated.
He continued, “A team set up by the Minister of Education arrived at the school today to mediate the ongoing impasse. However, staff of the college aided by students attacked the team from Abuja, damaging over five vehicles and the Provost’s official quarters.”
The police spokesperson further explained that the rioting staff and students also blocked all entrances in and out of the college. “The police arrived the scene and restored normalcy after being attacked with stones and sachets of water by the rioters. Meanwhile, 32 suspects have been arrested while men of the Nigeria Police Force from Area Command, Surulere remain on ground to ensure that the restored peace remains intact.”