By Agbafo Ijeoma
Police officers have been deployed to King’s College, Lagos, to maintain peace amid an ongoing dispute over the proposed concession of the school. The deployment was observed on Wednesday as efforts continued to address the disagreement.
Patrol vehicles were stationed at the school’s main entrance, while some adjoining roads were barricaded. Armed officers were also seen conducting routine checks within and around the school premises as part of measures to maintain security.
A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the deployment was preventive and aimed at protecting lives and property and preventing any breakdown of law and order. He added that a meeting was underway to address the dispute involving school workers, members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and representatives of the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA).
The development followed a statement by ASCSN calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to withdraw police officers from the school premises. The association’s National President, Shehu Mohammed, and General-Secretary, Joshua Apebo, said the call followed a dispute at the school on Tuesday.
ASCSN accused the police of working with KCOBA to forcefully open the school gates while discussions and lawful processes were ongoing. The association said the action undermined understandings reached between the Federal Ministry of Education, the Trade Union Congress and ASCSN. Efforts to obtain KCOBA’s response were unsuccessful, as the police officer said access to the premises was restricted at the time.
