There was pandemonium on Friday at the Caleb University, Imota, Lagos as some students clashed with policemen during a protest against some rules made by the school management.
It was learnt that the school authorities recently released a memo, prohibiting male and female students from hanging out together from 7pm and before 8am.
Another new rule requires students to get a pass from the fellowship within the school premises before they could leave the campus.
City Round learnt that some students were suspended for violating the “7pm rule” which led to the protest.
It was gathered that the school authorities invited policemen who fired teargas canister and gunshots which resulted in the clash.
“The policemen were trying to apply force which led to a clash between them and the students. They fired teargas canister and shot into the air and in the process some students were injured. I learnt two students were shot. The students were protesting against the suspension of some of their colleagues over the 7pm rule. The management said female and male students must not hang out anytime from 7pm and before 8am,” a source told our correspondent.
The Head, Media and Public Relations, for the school, Mr Elvis Otobo, denied that the school invited the police, adding that normalcy had been restored.
He said, “Unfortunately, in the Nigerian larger society, laws are implemented on a partial basis. A big man can get away with some things. But in a Christian institution, it doesn’t matter how popular you are. When you run foul of the law, you should face the music otherwise the university will not be seen to be implementing rules that are subject to equality.
“In this case, maybe two students erred. The stakeholders, including parents are in support of this law. You know the youth of today, sometimes they want so much freedom and you know what it can lead to when you allow them access to uncontrolled freedom. The law is just saying that at a particular time, people of opposite sex must not be seen together. That is a biblical law that is based on high moral standards.”
Otobo refuted the claim that students must get a pass from the fellowship before they could leave the campus, adding that such permission was granted by the students’ affairs unit.In a statement issued on the incident, the school spokesperson refuted the claim that two students were shot, noting that the authorities were looking into the issue.
The statement read in part, “No student was shot at Caleb University today, and the agitation by some students over a student who was sanctioned over a disciplinary issue, has been addressed by the university management, after consultation with stakeholders.
“Efforts by the university to fulfil its core focus of character building and academic excellence, has been strengthened by the continuous emphasis on mainstreaming global best practices, with emphasis on godliness.”
Calls made to the line of the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Bala Elkana, rang out.
we are keeping our hands crossed as the news unfolds, we will keep you updated.