Nigeria Content Online

At least two
students of the Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun yesterday
sustained serious injuries during a face-off between the police and
students of the college. The students had in the early hours of
yesterday protested against the failure of the state governor, Rauf
Aregbesola to reduce the tuition fee in the institution, as he promised
after the Education Summit organised by the state government. The
protest which led to the burning of tyres on the campus caused the
vandalisation of vehicles owned by lecturers of the institution and
other vehicle owners.

The students who carried placards with various
inscriptions also burnt tyres in front of the private residence of the
National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Bisi Akande who is
also the Asiwaju of Ila-Orangun.

Reports say trouble
started in the college when the dean, faculty of science, J. O Bamgbala
announced at a meeting with students of the faculty that both the 100
level and 200 level students of the institution would pay N28,000 as
tuition fees. While the new students agreed to pay, the 200 level
students allegedly refused on the basis that they paid a similar amount
as tuition fees in the last academic session. The students thereafter
mobilized their colleagues against the arrangement. The students locked
the main gate to the campus and prevented people from entering. They
also went to the staff schools and locked the pupils up, preventing
their parents who are mostly lecturers of the college from gaining
entry into the schools.

The students also took their protests round the community but were
met by Mobile police officers who shut down the protests by shooting
sporadically into the air, causing some of the students to sustain
injuries. prevented them students from further protest.