The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed that some irate students of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, on Thursday, attacked its divisional office in Malete, Moro local government area of the state.
The command also confirmed that one of its officers was injured while a mosque inside the station was destroyed by the protesting students who hauled stones at the Police station.
LEADERSHIP reports that the students’ protest and the eventual attack on the police station was a reaction to a sting operation carried out in Malete and its environs by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday where 50 persons, including 48 students of KWASU were arrested for alleged cybercrime.
The spokesperson of the state police command, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement, confirmed the attack on the Malete divisional police headquarters by KWASU students.
The statement read: “The 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 seeks to address the recent gatherings by students of Kwara State University (KWASU) on 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”.
“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.
“Additionally, 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.”
Ejire-Adeyemi said the divisional police officer (DPO) in Shao Division and three other tactical teams have been deployed to Malete to support the efforts in de-escalating the situation.
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