Student Shot Dead, Two Others Injured during Protest against Fees Hike in Kaduna

A student of the Kaduna State College of Education in Jema’a Local Government Area of the state was on Monday killed by security operatives and two others injured during a protest against a school fees hike.

The police, in a statement late Monday evening, confirmed the incident.

Hundreds of the students had gathered at the school gate to protest the hike by the state government but met resistance from the security agents drafted to foil the protest.

A student who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES anonymously for fear of sanction said the school authorities had suspended academic activities till July 5 to prevent the students from protesting against the new fees.

The student said most of his colleagues are from poor homes and cannot pay the new fees following the devastating effects of the coronavirus.

Mudi Tahir, the Sarkin Matasan (youth leader ) in Jama’a local government area, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that one person was killed in the protest.

He said the incident was unacceptable and called on the authorities to act.

One of the protesting students identified the deceased as Umar Buta. He said one other student, Emmanuel Nathaniel, sustained injuries from a stray bullet but was responding to treatment.

The student said the security agents, including soldiers, police and civil defence officers, shot into the air to disperse the protesters.