Students of tertiary institutions in Imo State yesterday embarked on a protest in Owerri, the state capital.
The students, during the protest, destroyed Governor Rochas Okorocha’s campaign posters, street lights and vehicles.
Daily Trust learnt that the students had earlier gathered at the Rochas campaign office along Okigwe road, for the governor’s pro campaign rally and that they were told that N4 million would be given to them.
Our correspondent reports that when they did not receive the money hours after the pro campaign rally, the students started destroying public property and pulling down campaign posters.
A student in one of the tertiary institutions who claimed anonymity told Daily Trust that the protest was prompted by organizers of the campaign, who according to him failed to pay the amount promised them after the campaign. He said they were offered N50,000 instead of the N4 million earlier promised.
When contacted, Imo State Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, confirmed the incident, saying before the protest, officers from the command appealed to the students to be calm.
He said no arrest had been made and lamented what he called desperation for power by political parties in the state. He said the development was causing tension in the state.
Reacting on behalf of Governor Okorocha’s campaign organization, the Senior Special Assistant on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, alleged that the protesters were thugs sponsored to disrupt the campaign.