City News learnt that the protest started on Wednesday night around 8 p.m., after three of the students were knocked down by a motorist while riding on motorcycle against traffic close to the school, along Zuba -Giri express was. Sources said that the driver of the car on noticing the students converging at the scene of the accident, sneaked into the nearby Zuba Police Station to save his life, leaving the three injured students on the ground with cuts and bruises on their legs and hands. The protesting students demanded release of the driver and accused the police of shielding him and doing nothing about their injured colleagues. Witnesses also told us that many motorists, who either heading to Lokoja or Kaduna on the other lane, were caught up in the ensuing holdup and had to park their vehicles for some time into the night, as the protesting students blocked the road. A flurry of stones hurled by the students and teargas thrown by the police added to the melee, until the arrival of some soldiers who reopened the road, after dispersing the enraged students. The rioting, however, continued on Thursday outside the school gate, leading to the buildup of traffic up to Zuma rock U-turn, Madalla and Tungan-Maje village, on the other lane. About 10 more casualties were recorded among the students from inhaling teargas as confirmed by a doctor at Lukas Hospital, Madalla where they were taken to for medical assistance. The doctor also informed that two of the injured students hit during the accident that triggered the trouble were taken to another hospital on Friday, while the third was discharged same day. Meanwhile, a block inside the school’s female hostel was gutted by fire on Friday, moments after resumption of the protest on the third day. Though, many students interviewed by our reporter, said the fire was caused by cooking taking place inside the living facility after the girls rushed out, on hearing noise of protest, others said sabotage from part of the protesters, should not be ruled out. Responding, the school registrar, Muhammad MaduLiman, said the decision of the school management to suspend academic activity was unavoidable, adding that there was no specific date for resumption. Zuba Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Muhammad Mahmud, confirmed the incident, maintaining that the police had since reconciled with the students.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday interrogated former Governor of Akwa Ibom State Godswill Akpabio over allegation of financial crimes. Daily Trust gathered that Akpabio honoured the invitation by the anti-graft agency to explain allegations of looting of the state’s funds during his tenure. Sources told our correspondent that Senator Akpabio was being interrogated late yesterday evening at the Abuja head offices of the Commission. He was spotted at the EFFC office in company of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rickey Tarfa, at about 5:20pm. Akpabio’s arrest yesterday is fallout of the petition by an Abuja-based lawyer and activist, Leo Ekpenyong, who had on June 8 this year petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the EFCC, calling for Senator Akpabio’s probe and accusing him of looting. The petitioner had earlier on Wednesday adopted his petition and provided more details to the anti-graft agency on the allegations against the minority leader of People...
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