Students of the University of Ibadan on Thursday locked the institution’s gate and closed down a major road while protesting the death of a 200 Level student of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Mayowa Alaran.
Alaran, who was alleged to be an asthma sufferer, was said to have collapsed while watching the European Champions League match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich at a crowded Common Room of Independent Hall on Wednesday night.
After his colleagues failed to revive him at the scene, he was taken to the school health centre, popularly called Jaja, where he eventually died. The students’ anger rose from the inability of the hospital ambulance to arrive early.
The students refused to allow journalists to use camera or record the protests as they also attacked those who used their mobile telephones to record their protest.
For several hours, the students blocked the main road from Sango to Ojoo, causing huge traffic gridlock.
Four police vans were stationed in front of the school but it did not stop the students from having a field day. Effort by the institution spokesperson, Olatunji Oladejo, to persuade the students to return to the school fell on deaf ears.
Reacting to the protest, the UI Registrar, Mr. Olujimi Olukoya, said the rampaging students outside the school gate were not from UI. He claimed that the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Adewole, had addressed the authentic students inside the school on the matter.
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