Protest Rocks Metallurgical Training Institute Onitsha, 4 Students Shot, One In Critical Condition

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Metallurgical Training Institute (MTI), established by the Federal
Government in Onitsha was Friday in turmoil.

The Institute’s students protested against poor hostel accommodation, rejection of the school’s diploma certificate by other federal government institutions among others.

The students blocked the ever busy Onitsha/Owerri Road, set a bonfire and were chanting solidarity songs.

The police while attempting to scare away the protesting students, allegedly shot and wounded four of the students. The victims were reportedly rushed to a nearby hospital, while one of them is believed to be in critical condition.

No fewer than fifteen (15) vehicles belonging to the school and some of the staff had their windscreens shattered by the protesting students.

In a telephone chat, the school Director, Mr. I. I. Okonkwo refused to speak to the press, claiming that he was not authorised to speak to the press but his tone betrayed his state of mind and shock at the students behaviour.

www.odogwublog.com leant trouble started in the school on Wednesday morning when some graduates of the school who had gone to Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Warri, Delta State to further their studies were rejected by PTI.

They were allegedly chased out by some security agents attached to the school over the excuse that MTI Diploma Certificate was not recognised by Petroleum Training Institute which is also a Federal Government owned institution.

The aggrieved students who were rejected by PTI were said to have communicated to some of their colleagues who are still studying at MTI that they were wasting their time as the Diploma Certificate from the school which is under the Federal Ministry of Mines and Power was not recognised outside the school on graduation.

The situation was said to have angered the students who now organised themselves and delegated the Students' Union Executives to approach the Director of the school, Mr. I. I. Okonkwo to know his reaction.

But on reaching the Director’s office Wednesday, the delegation of students were reportedly turned back by Mr Okonkwo who was also accused of not showing enough sympathy to the plight of the students.

However, feeling humiliated over the director’s uncompromising behaviour, the students were said to have regrouped as early as 8 o’clock Friday morning and mobilised themselves and vandalized some of the school property which included, the gadgets, such as Plasma TV sets and Computer sets.

On realizing the nature of the protest, the Director, Mr. Okonkwo reportedly ran into his office with some members of senior staff of the school in a bid to escape the students' wrath.

One of the students, a 200 level Welding and fabrication Department who didn’t want her name on print told our correspondent that the students' grievances were many, but accused the director of showing no sign of addressing them.

She stated that the hostel accommodation provided by the school was crowded for the students and the institute kept on admitting more students.

Another student, Henry Imafodon, a 300 level student of Mechanical Engineering Department said that most of the machineries used for the practical work which is about 80% of the school curriculum were either obsolete or no longer functional. He accused the institute's management of turning deaf ear to their plight.

The timely arrival of the police from several police Divisions from Okpoko, Awada and Obosi with the supervision of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hosea Karma prevented the situation from degenerating further.