Poly Students Apologise Over Violent Protest

Students of Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, near  Owerri, have tendered an unreserved apology to the management of the institution over their violent protest against alleged fee hike.

The apology is contained in a statement signed by the President of the Students’ Union Government  (SUG) and Speaker, Students’ Representative Council, Emmanuel Kachi and Chigoziri Agughara, respectively.

They described the July 27 riot in which three students were confirmed dead as “uncalled for and politically motivated.”

They stated that, “the reported increase in fees and imposition of sundry charges by the management were lies, fabricated to woo students into the dastardly destruction of the polytechnic property.”

“There was no any increase in fees, instead, the new Rector, Dr Cele Njoku, reduced the fees when she assumed office in September 2010.’’

The students’ leaders claimed that, “the protest was hijacked by hoodlums, masquerading as students.”

“They then used the opportunity to burn, loot and vandalise the property of the institution, as well as the SUG secretariat.’’

They condemned the wanton destruction of the SUG secretariat and the manhandling of the president of the union.

They alleged that “the riot was spearheaded by hoodlums from other institutions in the environs with the sole aim of discrediting the management of the institution’’.

They appealed to the management to reconsider the indefinite closure of the institution “in the interest of the genuine students.”

The students urged parents to call their wards to order, stressing that “the SUG will not stand for any student that engaged in violent activities’’.