The Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has been closed indefinitely, following a protest over the killing of a female student by a commercial motorcycle operator.
The public relations officer of the school, Luke Yakubu, told journalists in Lokoja on Tuesday that the closure was to prevent loss of lives and property, directing all students, including those in hostels, to vacate the school immediately.
The violent protests was embarked upon by students earlier on Tuesday, when the female student was allegedly stabbed in the chest during a scuffle with a commercial motorcycle operator over N50 transport fare.
She died on Tuesday morning at the hospital where she was receiving treatment, a development which prompted the students to embark on protest.
The protest later degenerated as the students commandeered a truck carrying cement products and used it to block the Lokoja-Abuja highway.
According to witnesses, the students later set the truck and two other vehicles and many motorcycles ablaze, a development which completely halted vehicular movement on the road for hours.
Many motorists abandoned their vehicles to take refuge in nearby houses and shops as police engaged the irate students.
The spokesman for police in the state, ASP William Aya, told journalists that the situation had been brought under control.
He also said that no arrest was made as the police principally came to pacify the students to leave the highway.
(NAN)
