The Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin(UNUBEN), Lilian Salami, has called for calm over the clash between soldiers and students on the campus on Thursday.
The clash started as a result of attempts by some military personnel to jump the queue and make a cash withdrawal at one of the bank’s Automated Teller Machines (ATM) in the school which was resisted by the students who had waited patiently in the queue for hours.
The VC in a statement on Friday, described the incident as unfortunate and urged the students to always seek alternative resolutions to crisis instead of protesting.
READ ALSO: Imo State: Fear As Gunmen Attack Court, Kill Judge
The statement reads, “The unfortunate incident of the clash between some students of our university and soldiers on Thursday 2nd February, resulting from alleged resistance of students to the soldiers’ attempt to jump ATM queue on campus has been brought under control and the management of the university is in discussions with the hierarchy of the S&T for amicable resolution.
“The management acknowledges that these are challenging times for everyone and enjoins all to remain calm while efforts are being made to avert a re-occurrence.
“Management also calls on the students to constantly engage dialogue in resolving issues that concern them rather than taking to protests, at any provocation, thereby causing more injury and damage to themselves and other citizens,” the statement added.
The Soldiers had also reportedly visited the school on the middle of the night and destroyed vehicles.
Viral videos captured gunshots going off at midnight and vehicles with broken glasses were seen on Friday morning.
A student told Punch that: “Two of the five soldiers who caused the trouble were taken to the security house at the main gate to prevent them being lynched. The were released to their superior later on Thursday evening.
“But they regrouped and came back in the early hours of Tuesday at about 12.30 and they jumped the fence, destroyed some vehicles and started shooting sporadically into the air.”
