Nasarawa State University has been shut down following alleged brutal murder of four students and wounding of seven others by soldiers who were brought in to quell a protest by the students of the institution.
Spokesman of the university, Jamil Zakari, confirmed the closure of the school, saying he heard of the shooting of students, but added that: “I cannot officially confirm that now.”
The students had embarked on the action, which was in its third day, to protest water scarcity.
Some students who confirmed the incident to Channels Television claimed that they were on a peaceful protest over the shortage of water supply within the university when suddenly some military men stormed the university campus amidst sporadic gunshots.
“They came from nowhere and opened fire on us during which 15 students were shot at, out of which four later died,” a student who participated in the protest, said.
According to the president, the National Association of Nigerian Students, Yinka Gbadebo, the protest started at about 8am on Monday.
“We don’t know who sent them because the university’s CSO (Chief Security Officer) confirmed to me that he had no idea that the military had interrupted the peaceful protests,” Mr. Gbadebo explained.
The NANS president also confirmed to Channels TV that the university has now been closed down on the orders of the university authority and that the military men as of 3pm Monday were still harassing any students they saw within the premises of the university.