There was panic in the Oloko area of Akure, Ondo state, on Tuesday morning when soldiers allegedly shot into a crowd of students protesting the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
TheCable understands that the students had blocked the Akure-Ilesa highway to register their plights over the protracted strike.
The protest had paralysed activities in the area, with several motorists and road users left stranded in the process.
It is understood that while the students were chanting solidarity songs, soldiers invaded the area and asked them to dismantle the roadblock.
The students were, however, said to have refused the directive. This was said to have prompted the soldiers to allegedly open fire on them.
In now-viral videos of the incident, some of the students were seen scampering for safety amid the commotion.
I just saw this disturbing video of member of The Nigeria Army shooting sporadically at innocent Asuu Strike protesters in Akure this morning.
Gov. Akeredolu what’s happening ? pic.twitter.com/pUGH6U8TPIAdvertisement— Duke Of Akoko (Ph.D) 👑 (@CB_Olusa) May 17, 2022
The protest comes a few days after students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) also staged a peaceful demonstration over the strike.
ASUU had on February 14 declared a one-month warning strike to protest the non-implementation of its demands by the federal government.
But on March 14, the union extended the industrial action by eight weeks, citing the government’s failure to fully address its demands.
The union thereafter extended the strike by another 12 weeks.
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