Polytechnic Debun Auchi claims Peter Obi for the death of students during unity election violence

Federal Polytechnic Management, Auchi, has denied the claims made by former presidential candidate Peter Obi that two students were killed and several others were injured during interference with violence against the Election of the Student Union Government (SUG) institution on Saturday.

Obi, in a post that was distributed by official X (previously Twitter), accused that the outbreak of violence that was chaotic during the selection of students caused many victims, including the death of two students. He described the incident as “heartbreaking,” quoting a viral video showing students running away in a panic in the middle of a shot.

“I watched a heartbreaking video showing students at Auchi Polytechnic at Edo State to run for their lives when they were shot during their student election yesterday, which killed 2 students and several injuries,” Obi posted.

However, the management of the Polytechnic has rejected claims as “wrong, misleading, and truly unfounded.”

In an official statement released on Tuesday by the Director of Public Relations of the Institution, Angela Egele, the school firmly rejected death or injury due to the incident.

“The attention of the management of Auchi Polytechnic has been interested in the statement credited to Peter Obi, where he accused that the election of the New Student Union Government (SUG) in the institution resulted in the death of two students and injuries to several others due to shots,” the statement said.

“Management firmly states that this claim is wrong, misleading, and truly unfounded.”

Egele confirmed that while the election was disturbed by violence, encouraging students to escape and exercise that was declared inconclusive, no death or injury was recorded. He noted that the presence of several security institutions, including the Nigerian Army, Police, Civil Defense Corps, State Security Services, Mobile Police, and Local Vigilante Operative, ensured the control and safety of the crowd during the election.

The statement followed the viral video circulation on Sundays which showed chaos on the Polytechnic campus. In the recording, students were seen recording the fence to escape while the shot echoed in the background. The smoke, which allegedly originated from tear gas, was also visible, and some young people seemed to use a knife during the commotion.

Apart from these scenes, Polytechnic stated that no students suffered gunshot wounds or all forms of fatal damage.

“To avoid doubts, no students were shot, injured, or killed during the selection process, which was then declared inconclusive because of observed deviations,” Egele reiterated.

This institution urged community members, stakeholders, and the press to ignore Obi’s statements, emphasizing its sustainable commitment to student welfare and campus safety “.