STUDENTS OF NWAFOR ORIZU COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, NSUGBE PROTEST OVER EXTORTION

Thousands of student of NwaforOrizu College of Education, Nsugbe in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State yesterday,disrupted vehicular movement and other business for several hours at aroma junction in Awka in protest over allegation of extortion, intimidation and harassment of innocent students of the college.

The students who displayed placards with inscriptions such as ‘students say no to intimidation, voice of the students must be heard among others’, claimed that some government officials and members of the Urban Drivers welfare Association conspired to intimidate, extort and beat-up their students.

Speaking to journalists, the President of the Students Union of the College, Comrade Ejike Joseph said they discovered that there was a disagreement between the management of the College and the Urban Drivers Welfare Association, which led to intimidation, harassment, extortion of money and over increase in the transport fares.

He called on the state government to ban the members of the Association from plying the school route and gave the State Government seven days to implement their demand.

Addressing the students, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Mr. ChineduObidigwe, thanked the students for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner and assured them that their request would get to the Governor as soon as possible.

Mr. Obidigwe who emphasized that Governor Willie Obiano remained an education friendly Governor, assured the students that nobody would deprive them of their rights.

It took time for the officers and men of the Police Force to disperse the students from the junction to ensure smooth movement of vehicles.

KEVIN EKEDIEGWU