Authority of the Kwara State Police Command on Friday reacted to the attack on Police Station by students of the Kwara State University (KWASU) on Thursday.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ajire Adeyemi-Toun, the command said:
“Our attention of Kwara State Police Command has been drawn to a video circulating on the social media space. The Commissioner of Police, CP VICTOR OLAIYA (psc+) seeks to address the recent gatherings by students of Kwara State University (KWASU) yesterday, February 22, 2024.
“Reports indicate that the gatherings, which began at about 1600hrs, centered around grievances related to the recent raids on Black-spots around the schools premises by operatives of NDLEA. Students living off Campus,expressed their dissent, marched from various parts of the town to Okoru Junction close to Malete Police Division, carrying placards with various inscriptions such as “Say No to NDLEA”.
Adeyemi-Toun added that, “Efforts were made to engage with the students persuading them to return to their respective hostels and maintain peace. In the process, they encountered a white Toyota Hilux vehicle with registration number Lagos AGL 574 HZ, occupied by four armed police men from Ila-orangun led by Inspr Ibrahim Ali and three others on an official assignment to Malete.
“They were mistaken for operatives of Drug Law Enforcement Agents. Consequently, the students chased them to Malete Divisional Police Headquarters, where the Students began to throw Stones into the Police Station.
“Regrettably, this led to some damages to the rooftop of the mosque and wind screen of vehicles parked in the station. The Policemen fired tear gas cannisters to disperse the violent crowd to prevent further damage at the police station.”
She further stressed that, “one police officer, PC Fayemi Kehinde, sustained minor injuries as a result of the stones thrown at the police station. He was given First Aid treatment at the hospital and discharged.
“Meanwhile, the DPO Shao Division and three other tactical teams are presently on ground to support the efforts in de-escalating the situation.
“The CP urged all students of KWASU involved in this act to exercise some restraints and work towards resolving issues through peaceful dialogue.”
