The rampaging protesters stoned the vehicle of legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) and also attempted to vandalise one of the hostels in Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).
The protesters, who ignored entreaty by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Frederick Lakanu, also hijacked vehicles from their owners and blocked the Ado-Ijan-Ikare-Akoko highway.
They were protesting the non-availability of electricity in the Ado Ekiti community for about one month.
But the Polytechnic authorities denied that the protesters were students of the institution and claimed in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Adeyemi Adejolu, that “the protesters are not students of the polytechnic but youthful elements residing at the settlement masquerading as students.”
The Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) in the state, Mr. Victor Babayemi, however, said 30 students were arrested and would be charged to court for breach of public peace.
However, the bid by the police to restore calm led to a face-off with the protesters, who said they were piqued by the availability of electricity at a ABUAD hostel nearby.
The students threw missiles at the police who responded by firing tear gas at them.
The Public Relations Officer of ABUAD, who is also the spokesman for Babalola, Mr Tunde Olofintila, decried the attitude of the students.
