The Rivers State chapter of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has alleged that three students of the University of Port Harcourt in the state were killed during a protest on Monday.
The students were protesting the implementation by the university authorities the no-fees-no-examination policy.
The police were called in to contain the protest, which turned violent.
The TUC said it condemns in its entirety the unwarranted killing of the three students.
It said: “We are worried that if there unarmed protesting students will be killed in cold blood then there is no guarantee that protesting workers or citizens will not be killed.
“We call on the authorities of the University of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the Inspector General of Police and the Hon. Minister for Education to as a matter of utmost urgency identify and prosecute those who killed the innocent protesting students. We note that students all over the world have the right to protest. And as a matter of fact, the right to peaceful protest is protected by the Nigerian constitution.
“We want to state categorically that if within 14 days our demand is not met, we shall convene an emergency TUC State Council meeting and invite the State Council to take a decision on this matter including the decision to withdraw the services of all our members in Rivers State.
“We appeal to all parents, civil society organisations and people of good conscience to rise up against the unwarranted and cold blooded killing of these students, whose only offence was protesting against the policy of the authorities of the University of Port Harcourt. We want to state categorically that if the Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT cannot handle a mere student protest, then he should resign immediately.
“Silence in this matter cannot be golden but an actively collaboration with the murderers of the students.”
