'She was begging not to die' - students explain exit of colleague

TheFreshUpdate.blogspot.com’s preliminary findings have revealed that the final year student of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) who died this morning, was just two weeks away from her final examinations.

A student of Yaba College pf Technology (YABATECH) scaling the gate just to exit the school premises during the protest in the institution following the death of a final year student. Photo: Michael Obasa

The students of the institution had staged a peaceful protest within the campus this afternoon, to express their displeasure with the latest development, which many of them confessed had been a usual practice in the institution for quite some time now.

The aggrieved students, whose campus in Akoka area of Yaba was shut during the period the protest lasted, said the institution’s management deliberately deprived them of students’ unionism, a situation which has led to high handedness and victimisation of those who dared to speak out.

Another student of Yaba College pf Technology (YABATECH) scaling the gate just to exit the school premises during the protest in the institution following the death of a final year student. Photo: Michael Obasa

GPB also gathered that student whose name was yet to be verified as at press time, was in pains and had pleaded with the medics not to allow her die but her pleas fell on deaf ears as she gave up the ghost at about 4.00pm this morning.
A visit to the medical centre showed that the workers were either hiding for fear of being maimed, stoned or killed, or had quickly found their ways out of the institution before the arrival of the visibly angry students.

The roads were barricaded at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) during the protest in the institution following the death of a final year student. Photo: Michael Obasa

Efforts to speak with the management of the institution proved futile as it was reported that they were in a crucial meeting from which certain decisions would be made as regards the latest disaster to befall the institution.
Most of the students beckoned on GPB crew to look at their hostels and see the situation of things in Nigeria’s first tertiary institution, adding that the prestige and the name attached to the school were mere propaganda as their leaders were not ready to do what is right.

Some of the students raising placards to press home their demands at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) following the death of a final year student. Photo: Michael Obasa

In their bid to leave and enter the school premises during the protest, the students were forced to jump over the second gates as the main gates had been locked, reportedly on the orders of the students’ leaders.
Below are other photos from the protest which took place this afternoon:

The students of Yaba College pf Technology (YABATECH) came out in their hundreds during the protest in the institution following the death of a final year student. Photo: Michael Obasa

The medical centre inside the institution, where the late student was rushed to when she took ill, looking deserted after the incident. Photo: Michael Obasa.

Front gate of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) during the protest in the institution following the death of a final year student. Photo: Michael Obasa