Uniben Students Resist Military Oppression, Clash with Soldiers over New Naira Notes

Students of University of Benin (UNIBEN) have resisted oppression from some military personnel who allegedly harassed some of the students on campus.

According to a report, on Thursday February 2, 2023, the students clashed with soldiers after trying to withdraw money from the school ATM and ordering students to leave the spot.

The students resisted the oppression, and this led to an exchange of words, resulting in the involvement of the institution’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), the report unveiled.

The soldiers were alleged to have attacked and slapped the CSO, who had tried to make peace between the soldiers and the students.

A trending video shows the students beating one of the soldiers.

“The soldiers came into the school to withdraw the new naira notes. And they told all students to lie down. Some Uniben students did not agree and started dragging with them. The fight escalated, and was taken to the school security office,” the report said.

“The soldiers slapped the CSO and injured two students who were taken to UBTH. The school security still allowed them to leave. SUG and other comrades got angry and blocked the expressway.

“The soldiers did the same thing yesterday. They told students to lie down while they withdrew money,” it added.

Confirming the clash, Iwegbu Jennifer, the State Command 2I/C PRO, said the soldiers from S and T barracks had broken students’ phones and injured some of them, including the Uniben CSO.

Peace was however restored after the soldiers’ RSM got involved and promised to look into the matter.