A wild rage swept the ancient town of Owo in Ondo State at the weekend as three students of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO), Owo, were shot during a heated argument between some policemen and the students.
These led to an unfettered public disturbance in the town as vehicles numbering over 10 were vandalised by the angry students and scores of residents brutally attacked with varying degrees of injuries.
THE GUARDIAN gathered that the crisis broke out when a private car, belonging to a police officer allegedly hit two students and abandoned them before speeding off.
This infuriated the students, and in a solidarity march, moved en masse to the Division B Police at Otapete, protesting the injustice and dehumanisation meted out on their colleagues by the police.
A source, who spoke to The Guardian said they were dispersed with tear gas shot sporadically into the air. In the ensuing melee, three students were hit with canisters and bullets.
This further infuriated the students as they went on rampage and allegedly destroyed vehicles parked inside the station and blocked the Owo-Akure Expressway, which is opposite their school, causing severe traffic gridlock.
The Polytechnic Information Protocol and Public Relations Unit (IPPPR), Mr. Olumide Olugosi, said no student died during the protest but disclosed that the students who sustained gunshot injuries are stable and are receiving treatments at Federal Medical Centre, (FMC) Owo.
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