Futo set to shut down as students protest over school fees hike.

Futo shut down till further notice.
#Futostudentsprotest

It all started at about 9 am today 17th day of February 2017, as students of Federal University of Technology Owerri engage on a protest because of the increment in school fees and other fees in the school.

According to students, it was peaceful earlier when they started at about 7am in the morning. But it wasn’t a success which initiated a riot. Most students were dressed in black, they came out in mass and visited almost all lecture halls and building of the institution. Students paraded everywhere in the school; breaking and destroying things.
Buildings like SUG Resource Center, Senate Building, Diamond Bank, Library, SEET and SMAT complex, etc are redesigned in a fashionable manner by the angry students which they damage the glasses, throwing of stone like bullets. The ICT building was also paraded, broken and some students made away with some computer system and other items.


More so, students were seen carrying some banner and write ups which description says “they have failed us; our right is our right” another was sighted stating “we say no to FUTO Buhari; #no to Prof. Eze”.

At the Senate building there was already Security operatives; Police, DSS and others who tried to ensure that the senate house was safe, and the environment was peaceful. They released a tear gas in the air when they noticed the student’s violence mood as they approach. Of course they have to do what they could to secure a peaceful environment.
It was all another story entirely when students, inspite of all odds and security intervention, still made their way into the senate house chanting
“All we are saying, Eze ‘Vice Chancellor’ must go. We need Asiabaka back ‘former Vice Chancellor’ Eze must go.”  Also another chant “school fees come down” they finally transfered their aggression to Diamond bank, throwing stones to its building and their reason was stated clearly on their banners “Say no to monopoly in Diamond Bank” according to them, it is because of their irregularity that frustrates students sometimes.

Some students when speaking with FSSJ correspondent stated their views on the issue; an anonymous student said as quoted
“Yes, I must emphasize on this very issue. It is a taboo for a whole federal school, the increment of school fees is quietly abnormal. We are crying, we are not happy; the VC must go, we need Asiabaka”. Another set of students were noticed lamenting “reduce our school fee”

One actually spoke to the FSSJ correspondent as he was bouncing on other fees and stating other federal schools’ fees as low. He said as quote
“Our school fees has been unreasonably increased, year 1 acceptance and school fees almost One Hundred Thousand Naira plus other practical, they have increased automatically. Engineering drawing is used to be free but now is Three Thousand Naira, for what? Their excuse is economic recession. It is not fair, students have to fight for their right; though education shouldn’t be free but it should be a privilege”.
However, former SUG P.R.O Ogbonna Collins (Rochas) who was said to lead the students on the protest was arrested by the Department of State Security Service (DSS). Maybe it could be one of the reasons why students decided to damage some resources belonging to the school; as they were seen chanting “bring back Rochas”.
 

Another horrible incident happened, some students were injured. A male student had a very severe in injury in his leg and he was rushed out to the medical center. Another female student fell down on her way to senate building.

Moving on, FSSJ correspondent had a brief chat with one of the Police men while he is trying his way of recuing back peace. And the security officer gave out advice and possible ways in which this protest could have been done. He said;
“Your interest is our interest, anything that affect you affects us. It is the right of students to protest, but you would have managed the situation, have one voice and explore other options like writing to Federal Ministry of Education, Federal University Commission, Press and other media houses. Create a platform for a dialog, I think violence should have been your last option.”

Finally, the institution ‘Federal University of Technology’ has been shut down till further notice. Hostel occupants have been asked to vacate the environment with immediate effect. More security have been deployed to FUTO.
But amongst all these, there was no SUG Exco, no one actually addressed the students. The Vice Chancellor did not come out to address the issue. The big questions are: why? What is the hope of students?