By METROWATCH Reporter
In what appears as reprisals, scores of unarmed civilians have been left injured and several vehicles destroyed at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ugbowo main campus, in alleged revenge attacks launched by the Nigerian military.
The alleged ‘reprisals’ came last night following Thursday’s clash between some students of the university and soldiers, resulting from resistance of the students to the soldiers’ attempt to jump ATM queues on campus.
The soldiers were said to have descended on a female student who they assumed was recording the act on tape. Things escalated quickly after the soldiers reportedly attempted to forcefully abduct the student to their barrack but were resisted by the school security department. The soldiers would later assault the officers including the institution’s Chief Security Officer.
The development reportedly led to a mid retaliation from angry civilians. In a viral video seen by this online media, one of the soldiers could be seen on the floor, temporarily restrained and neutralised. He, however, managed to escape from the university campus through the fence.
It was gathered that the soldiers believed to be from S&T Barracks in Benin City invaded the university campus Thursday night by scaling the perimeter fencing to beat up security officers on night duty, destroying several vehicles parked on campus.
Some unarmed civilians including residents on campus who were attempting to use the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) on bank road within the school premises were caught up in the ‘reprisals’ and were also not left out as the soldiers pounced on them, leaving them with various degree of injuries.
Viral video on Friday morning show the UNIBEN Ugbowo main campus littered with damaged vehicles belonging to the institution and private individuals that were not left out in the reprisals as the windscreens were completely shattered by the rampaging soldiers.
Some of the injured, it was gathered, were taken to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for urgent medical attention. A medical personnel at the hospital who craved anonymity said many of the injured were brought in early morning and they(medical personnel) had a busy time attending to the wounded.
As at the time of filing this report, the University Management has appealed to staff and students for calm and not take law into their hands or protest over the development.
In a statement early Friday morning personally signed by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Lilian Salami, she said management was in discussion with the hierarchy of the Nigerian Army for 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,” she said.
Professor Salami called 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.”
