In response to the fight between troops and students on campus on Thursday, University of Benin Vice Chancellor Lilian Salami appealed for calm on Friday.
The students who had waited patiently in line for hours reportedly rejected attempts by some military members to bypass the line and make a cash withdrawal from one of the bank’s automated teller machines.
The VC issued a statement on Friday describing the situation as sad and advising the students to always look for other solutions to problems rather than demonstrating.
In a statement by the VC on Friday, she described the incident as unfortunate and urged the students to always seek alternative resolutions to crisis instead of protesting.
The statement reads, “The unfortunate incident of the clash between some students of our university and soldiers on Thursday 2nd February, resulting from alleged resistance of students to the soldiers’ attempt to jump ATM queue on campus has been brought under control and the management of the university is in discussions with the hierarchy of the S&T for an amicable resolution.
“The management acknowledges that these are challenging times for everyone and enjoins all to remain calm while efforts are being made to avert a re-occurrence.
“Management also calls on the students to constantly engage dialogue in resolving issues that concern them rather than taking to protests, at any provocation, thereby causing more injury and damage to themselves and other citizens,” the statement added.
When Newsmen visited the school premises on Friday, there were fears among students and residents of the area of a reprisal attack. Four vehicles that had their windshield smashed were packed close to the school’s main gate.
The exit gate was shut as motorists used the entry gate and were subjected to vigorous search before they were allowed in, while some students and residents gathered at the main gate afraid of what would happen next.
A group of police officers also sat close to the mountain to forestall further breakdown of law and order within the university environment.
A student told newsmen that they were afraid that the soldiers could still come and attack the school in the dead of the night.
She said, “Two of the five soldiers who caused the trouble were taken to the security house at the main gate to prevent them from being lynched. They were released to their superior later on Thursday evening.
“But they regrouped and came back in the early hours of Tuesday at about 12.30 and they jumped the fence, destroyed some vehicles, and started shooting sporadically into the air.”
