The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has confirmed the death of a student, following the violent protest by students of the University of Uyo on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The Commissioner of Police in the State, Umar Gwadabe, confirmed the death of the student in an interview with a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Uyo.<\/p>\n
Mr. Gwadabe said that contrary to speculations that three students died, the police could confirm the death of one student.<\/p>\n
He said that 45 students had been arrested by the police in connection with the protest.<\/p>\n
The commissioner said that but for the timely intervention of the police, the protest would have engulfed the whole town.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe police is duty bound to stop the protest from escalating from campus into town as the students tried to advance into the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this circumstance, the police did not do anything wrong,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The offices of the vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellor (administration) and council affairs unit were razed by the students. A visit to the city campus of the university by a News Agency of Nigeria correspondent showed that 12 vehicles, some of them owned by the university were destroyed during the protest.<\/p>\n
The protesters also destroyed equipment in the Exams and Records Unit, Finance and Accounts, Internal Audit and Cash Office of the institution.<\/p>\n
The Computer Maintenance Department of the institution was also not spared, as hard discs and other facilities were removed by the students.<\/p>\n
The peaceful protest over hike in transport fares, which started early on Wednesday, degenerated, resulting to the destruction of property.<\/p>\n
While speaking, the Chairman of the UNIUYO Branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Anyim Nwachukwu, said that he was not aware of what exactly led to the protest.<\/p>\n
Mr. Nwachukwu said that when the crisis started, he and some lecturers \u201cmanaged to escape from campus\u201d.
\nHe said that the union had not yet been briefed by management.<\/p>\n
Apart from the radio announcement issued on Wednesday night announcing the closure of the school, the university management has yet to issue any official statement on the crisis.
\n(NAN)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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