Kaduna student shot dead, el-Rufai denies deploying operatives against protesters

A student of the Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya, was on Monday shot dead while protesting an increase in tuition fees of the school.

He was said to have joined his colleagues, who were protesting the hike in school fees, when security operatives made attempt to disperse them.

One of the protesters, who preferred anonymity, told Daily Trust that they came out to protest the increase of school fees in the state-owned institution when they met security operatives outside the college.

Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-rufai in a statement, signed by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the incident but denied sending security operatives to suppress the protesters.

He called for a thorough investigation into the death, promising to make the report public, just as he commiserated with the family of the deceased.

The statement read, “The Kaduna State Government is awaiting full reports on Monday’s protest by students of the Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya.

“In the preliminary report received so far, one student lost his life and some others were wounded, while three security personnel also sustained injuries.”

“The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, condoled the family of the student that lost his life, and wished the students and operatives who sustained injuries speedy recovery. The government of Kaduna State also wishes to debunk reports that it deployed security operatives to suppress protesting students. The KDSG is awaiting briefings to enable it to understand the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate violent incidence in Gidan Waya.”

“At the time of this update, the governor is awaiting reports from the military, police, DSS, the management of the institution, the student union as well as the traditional institution in the area. The government will publish its findings after receipt of the expected reports.”