Thousands of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, in Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of the state on Monday protested increasing levels of insecurity, instances of police extortion, and brutality, declaring that they no longer felt safe.
At the institution’s main gate, the protesters, led by the Student Union president, Geoffrey George claimed that students faced extortion by policemen in Ikot Ekpene, while they constantly were victims of robbery attacks.
The students bore placards with inscriptions like, “End Police brutality now,” “Protect, save, don’t abuse,” and “This Extortion Must Stop.”
Speaking with journalists, the SUG president narrated what they suffered at the hands of police and hoodlums in the community.
“Last week, there was a trending video on social media where a student of the institution was beaten and dragged to the ground by policemen.
“Students face extortion by policemen in Ikot Ekpene. We are not safe, especially those students living in the communities within the school environment.
“Hoodlums snatch phones from students and even kill them. We have buried more than five students in the last year. They were killed by thieves who broke into their houses, collected their phones and killed them while police looked the other way,” George stated.
Several students said the protest must continue until the government addresses their agitation.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for Akwa Ibom, Timfon John said the state Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare has invited the student for a meeting to resolve all the issues raised.
“The Commissioner of Police Baba Azare has invited the students to a meeting this morning. We are waiting for them to come.
“Those students you saw at the school gate this morning are preparing to come for a meeting with the police commissioner,” John said.
