On Thursday, students from the University of Benin battled with soldiers on the school grounds over a cash withdrawal from one of the bank's Automated Teller Machines.
The children patiently waited in line for their turn when the troops allegedly tried to cut in front of them.
According to a source, the soldiers from S&T Barracks offended the students because they had oppressively carried out the same action on Wednesday. It was also reported on Wednesday they came here and harassed the students.
Even the students who challenged them were asked to lie down. The student, however, objected when they tried to do it again today (Thursday). The troops allegedly slugged him when the institution's head security officer intervened.
This is while confrontations broke out between the students and the troops. The situation enraged the kids and slowed traffic on routes to and from the school, causing gridlock.
To calm the enraged students and permit traffic movements around the axis, some brave Nigerians and the Divisional Police Officer Ugbowo Division had to intervene.
When contacted, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu, a state deputy police spokesman, reported that after numerous pleas to the students who had asked that a colleague's shattered phone be fixed, the order had been restored to the neighborhood.
Prof. Lilian Salami, the school's vice-chancellor, stated on Friday, urging restraint and calling the circumstance deplorable.
The statement said, "The sad occurrence of the clash between certain students of our university and troops on Thursday, February 2, has been brought under control, and the management of the University is in contact with the hierarchy of the S&T for an amicable resolution."
The management recognizes that these are trying times for everyone and asks that everyone maintain their composure. At the same time, measures are taken to prevent a repeat of the incident.
The statement said, "Management also urges the students to consistently engage in conversation in resolving issues that affect them instead of going to protests, at any provocation, thereby creating additional harm and damage to themselves and other citizens."
