UI students protest colleague’s death, attack journalist

Students of the University of Ibadan on Thursday blocked the Mokola-Oojo Road in the Oyo State capital and beat up a journalist while protesting the death of a student, Mayowa Alaran.

Alaran was said to have collapsed while watching the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the common room of Independent Hall on Wednesday night.

 

After attempts by his colleagues failed to revive him at the scene, he was reportedly rushed to the school health centre, popularly called Jaja, where he eventually died.

 

The students anger was said to have risen as a result of the failure of the hospital’s ambulance to arrive early.

 

The protesting students blocked the Sango-Ojoo Road, causing huge traffic along the route and the environs.

 

Two police vans were stationed in front of the school but they did not stop the students from showing their displeasure with the death of their colleague.

 

Effort by the institution’s spokesperson, Olatunji Oladejo, to persuade the students to return to the campus fell on deaf hears.

 

The students refused to allow journalists to use camera or record the protest as they also attacked those who used their phones to record their scenes.

 

Mr. Sola Adeyemo of the New Telegraph was beaten up by the students while his phone was seized from him.

 

His clothes were torn before the police came to his rescue.