Recall that it was earlier reported that Polytechnic students,  who have been at home for the past nine months over the strike embarked on by Polytechnic lecturers, resorted to protest today. They took to streets in Yaba area of Lagos for a peaceful rally. However, sources have disclosed that the peaceful protest turned sour when Police officers decended on the students hours later. They brutally attacked the students, tear-gassed, assaulted and arrested more than 100.



The protesting polytechnic students said they wanted to draw attention to their plight as they have been out of school for close to nine months owing to a general strike by their lecturers. The protesters accused the Goodluck Jonathan administration of triggering the strike by refusing to honor a 2009 agreement with polytechnic teachers across Nigeria.

Trouble started as soon as the protesters moved from Yaba College of Technology in the Yaba area of Lagos towards Lagos Island. They were attacked by policemen around Adekunle bus stop. The policemen viciously beat up many students after firing into the air and bombarding us with teargas, before whisking them away in a prison vehicle.


SaharaReporters contacted police spokesman, Frank Mba, regarding the repressive action of the police towards peaceful protesters. Mr. Mba said he could not ascertain which unit of the police carried out the attack, stating that he was traveling to Abuja by road.

After detaining the students for hours, inside Black Maria vehicles parked at the entrance to the Third Mainland bridge via Adekunle area in Yaba, Lagos, they were released.

Eyewitnesses say they almost suffocated inside the prison van as a result of heat and intense tear - gas fumes.