Student feared killed as "solidarity rally for Governor Udom Emmanuel" ends in chaos

Student feared killed as "solidarity rally for Governor Udom Emmanuel" ends in chaos

-Governor's aide accused of embezzling N31m

Thursday's solidarity rally for Governor Udom Emmanuel descended into chaos as Akwa Ibom students from tertiary institutions across Nigeria were left stranded at the Ibom Hall Grounds in Uyo after the Governor's aide on Student Matters, Otobong 'Aquila' Akpan, disappeared into thin air with 31 Million Naira mobilization fund given by the governor.

The governor had earlier in the day at the Ibom Hall announced that he has released the said sum of money for the students, that the money will be disbursed to them after the rally.

The students upon ending the day long march on the streets of Uyo were however left stranded at the Ibom Hall Grounds for over four hours.

The governor's aide and other student leaders including the Deputy Coordinator of National Association of Nigerian Students/ Joint Campus Committee in the South South (Zone B), Akwaowo Clifford, were no where to be found.

No channel of communication was established as Aquila and other student leaders switched off their mobile phones.

The stranded students at around 7:30 pm emptied into IBB Way and blocked a lane of the dual carriageway.

Police officers shot into air to wade them off
- an action which apparently infuriated the students.
Stones, bottles and objects were hurled by the irate students, and in the ensuing fisticuffs, a student lost consciousness after being trampled upon.

Information from the students was that efforts to revive the male student whose identity was not made known proved abortive.

The students thronged the streets enroute the Akwa Ibom Government House in Uyo.

Some of them however resorted to destroying vehicles and disppossessing pedestrians of valuables.

They barricade the government house entrance for over two hours even as gunshots and teargas were released into the air by police officers.

'Aquila must go, Aquila must be sacked' and aluta songs rented the air.

Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, later arrived with heavy security personnel to address the students.

His call for calm fell on deaf ears as the students insisted on the release of the N31 million Naira.

Barr. Onofiok Luke, Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, later drove himself to the government house.
Luke, a former student leader, equally called for calm and assured the students that they will be paid the next day - a statement which did not go down well with the students.

After series of boos, Luke pleaded with them not to invade the government house.

Luke later directed that the students should queue on Metro Road adjacent the government house for payment of N2000 per person.

Senator Bassey Albert, at around 10:47pm, arrived with heavy security.

The payment process became an all-comers affair as hoodlums and non-students apparently infiltrated the crowd.
The payment commenced by 11:15pm but was halted for minutes to avert stampede as security operatives insisted on orderly conduct.

The payment continued as nature birthed a new day.
Some of the persons who were paid were robbed metres away from the Metro Road.

The vicinity was still in disarray as at 12:30am when this reporter left.

By Ofonime Honesty