Aftermath Of Strike:Students Smash ASUU’s Car

The industrial dispute rocking  Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt took a new dimension on  Wednesday following the destruction of the official car and documents belonging to the striking lecturers of the state university by   students of the institution.

The Tide gathered that the incident took place immediately after an emergency  congress of the Student Union Government (SUG) of the university where the President of SUG briefed the students on the latest developments in the university.

It was gathered that during the congress, the students were divided over the planned demonstration against the ASUU strike which was expected to be demonstrated at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State House of Assembly and on the campus of the university.

An authoritative source in the university told The Tide that following the disagreement over the demonstration, a faction allegedly led by the president of Student Union Government moved to the senior staff club of the university where the ASUU official car was parked and destroyed the vehicle including vital documents belonging to ASUU in the institution.

Reacting to the incident, the chairman of ASUU in the University, Dr Felix Igwe described the act as criminal and calculated attempt to intimidate  ASUU against her resolve to improve the educational status of Nigerian universities.

The ASUU boss in a press statement made available to The Tide condemned the threat to life of members of ASUU in the university and wanton destruction of its properties in the university by the leadership of Student Union Government of the institution.

He said that henceforth the university administration should be held responsible for anything that happens to the lives and property of all academic staff of the university.

“This dastardly act will not  deter us from achieving our goal.  The struggle continues”, the statement added.

Also, the Secretary of ASUU in the University, Engineer Emmanuel Ekwuluo described the act  as terrorism which should be condemned  by the stakeholders in the state.

When The Tide went to the office of Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor B.B. Fakae to confirm the incident, he was not available for comments.

At the security department of the university where the incident was said to have been reported the officers there kept sealed lips over the incident.

Isaac Nwankwo