Tension gripped Abraka on November 20, after the SUG President of Delta State University was arrested and brutally assaulted by the police.
The chaos escalated when the Senate President, attempting to intervene, faced a similar fate.
Aluta was invoked and a massive student protest that ended in violence and unanswered questions followed.
It was an evening that began like any other in Abraka, a bustling university town.
By 7:00 PM on November 20, 2024, the calm atmosphere was shattered by an unexpected commotion.
Word spread quickly—Delta State University (DELSU)’s Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Comr. Augustine Onovughegor, had been arrested and beaten by the police.
What followed was a night of chaos and unanswered questions.
Beaten To Stupor
The arrest of the SUG President at a local location sparked immediate outrage.
Students, known for their strong sense of unity, began gathering in large numbers near the police station where he was held.
However, the story took an even darker turn when the university’s Dean of students’ affairs, Prof. Ignatius Njoseh, entered the police station to mediate.
Reports indicate that he, too, was assaulted and left beaten to stupor by the police officers on duty.
News of these events spread like wildfire.
Within minutes, hundreds of DELSU students crowded the entrance of the police station.
They began chanting the Aluta songs and demanding an explanation for the arrests and assaults.
Tensions Escalate
Unfortunately, the situation grew tense.
Unable to control the swelling crowd, some policemen allegedly began firing shots into the air and towards the students.
Also, tear gas and pepper spray were deployed, causing panic and confusion.
Students scattered, running in different directions to avoid injury.
Witnesses claim that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the station was the first to fire a shot, further inflaming the situation.
Meanwhile, fear of further violence kept anyone from venturing inside the station to get clarity on the arrests.
A witness said: “As the President of the Students’ Union Government, he wanted to intervene, but I don’t know what happened.
But it seems they didn’t listen to him.”
“So when he came out, he used the Aluta Jet to block the road; as he blocked the road, they (the police) came out and started beating him and the Executives with him and arrested them.
They even opened fire at us, and sprayed teargas on three people’s face.
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Even now, they are pursuing us with teargas and cane.”
“One of the policemen said we should go home before we make our parents regret sending us to school.”
Resolution Amid Mystery
After hours of rioting and intervention by senior university authorities, the SUG President was finally released.
However, no clear reason was provided for his initial arrest or the violent actions taken against him and the Dean of the university.
The night left many shaken, and as of now, the police remain silent on the matter.
What began as a seemingly routine evening in Abraka has now become a topic of intense discussion and concern among DELSU students and the wider community.
