By Agbenu Oyale, Abuja
A celebration by graduating students of the Adamawa State Polytechnic Yola (SPY) turned violent on Thursday, forcing authorities to shut the the school and send students home.
The students were said to have been going about their celebration in a manner considered unbecoming by officials of the polytechnic who told them to halt it.
Sources said the students went wild instead and security operatives had to be called in.
The security operatives, in a joint police-military operation, reportedly fired tear gas to disperse the increasingly unruly youths who calmed down only to rise again moments after and burn valuable facilities.
Rector of the polytechnic, Professor Ibrahim Umar, told reporters the final year students destroyed a 500-seat multipurpose lecture theatre, Students’ Union Government building and a male hostel during the “unprovoked riot”.
He said the riot was sparked by revelry and celebration by outgoing students.