ASUU Strike Update – Police stop lecturers’ from protesting in Benue, Kano, Sokoto

Base on the report we had that peaceful demonstration is going on in some state in Nigeria by the striking lecturers.
Makurdi chapter, the secucrity operatives comprising policemen and men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were, yesterday, engaged in confrontation with members of  Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Federal University of Agriculture (FUAM), Makurdi chapter when the lecturers  staged a peaceful protest in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, to further impress it on the government to fully implement the 2009 ASUU FG agreement.
It will be recalled that university students numbering about 1,000 also staged a peaceful demonstration round the major streets of Makurdi on Wednesday to persuade the government to heed the demands of the striking lecturers.

The striking lecturers, in their hundreds, had  converged on the Kenville Parks and Gardens, High Level area of Makurdi as early as 8a.m. from where they took off and were proceeding towards Government House chanting solidarity songs.

Hardly had they moved up to  500 metres when stern looking  armed policemen and men of the NSCDC blocked them with their vehicles, preventing the protesting lecturers from proceeding to the seat of government.

The lecturers resisted the order of the security men to retreat as they remained in the same spot chanting various songs with placards bearing different inscriptions.

But when it dawned on them after about an hour that the security men would not allow them to move to the seat of government, they were forced to go back.

Meanwhile, Sokoto State Police Command, on Thursday, foiled the public awareness rally planned by members  of ASUU of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto chapter.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the command disapproved the rally through a letter signed by Mr Douglas Agbonleni, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of administration,

The letter, dated, October 30, said: “Due to the current situation in the country, your request is not approved.

“You are, therefore, advised not to carry out the rally to avoid any break down of law and order.”

ASUU Strike Update – Police stop lecturers’ from protesting in Benue, Kano, Sokoto

Reacting to the letter, ASUU, in a statement signed by the chairman of the chapter, Dr Frank Tambuwal, condemned the action of the police.

“This is a clear violation of our constitutional right to educate the Nigerian public on why we are on strike since July, 2013.

“It should be noted that no amount of intimidation, suppression or harassment will deter us from fighting for our deprived rights,” the statement said.