Some soldiers said to be accompanying a VIP on Wednesday in Moro, clashed with students who had mounted a barricade along Gbongan/Ilesa/Akure expressway in protest of the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
The protesters had mounted barricades on the road around Moro Junction and at Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu junction since 10am.
The students had organised the protest under the aegis of Great Ife Concerned Students in collaboration with Fund Education Coalition, and have been blocking Ede/Ife road, Ilesa/Akure and Gbongan/Ibadan expressway between 10am and 3pm daily since last week Thursday, except weekends.
It was further learnt that the protesters had resumed at the barricade since 10am and blocked the road.
But melee ensued when a van conveying about five soldiers, escorting a VIP emerged from Ibadan/Gbongan end and headed towards Ilesa/Akure road some minutes to 3pm, ran into the protesters and dismantled their barricade.
It was further leant that the students at the scene attempted to stop the soldiers from advancing but did not succeed.
Speaking with The PUNCH, Salvation Aworanti, the vice president, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Students’ Union, who was part of the protest, said the soldiers chased away the protesters and forced their way through the barricade.
She said, “We were there from 10am. The vehicle carrying the soldiers who were accompanying a VIP emerged from Gbongan end of the road some minutes to 3pm. They threatened us and removed the barricade.
“They first removed the barricade close to OUI and moved towards Moro Junction where they also forced their way through. We stood up to them but they forced their way through.”
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