Students protesting against strike action of the Academic Staff Union Universities on Friday, in Ibadan, had a face-off with a team of the Nigerian Army who, in a bid to force their way through blockage by the students, almost ran them over with their vehicle.
The video obtained by The PUNCH showed protesting students almost falling off as the military vehicle attempted to advance through them.
The students had gathered at the front gate of the University of Ibadan for a third-time protest, calling on the Federal Government to accede to the demands of the striking lecturers in order to fast-track the reopening of public institutions which have been shut down since 88 days.
One of the students, identified simply as Lolo, who narrated the incident to our correspondent, said, “the police had already blocked major roads because of the protest too, so we also barricaded our side, but the soldiers just came, suddenly came down with a gun.
“He even cocked his gun as if he was going to shoot, and everybody was surprised. Maybe he was angry or triggered, if his bosses were not there, he would have shot at us.”
Another protester said, “Yes, they almost ran over us, they cocked gun.”
The students resumed protest as the Thursday meeting of ASUU and the Federal Government ended in a deadlock.
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