Students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure on Monday, shut down the busy Akure-Ilesha highway, during a protest.

The protest was triggered by the alleged beating of the institution’s students union leader on Sunday evening by persons suspected to be thugs.

The students who shut the South Gate of the school were also said to have been angered by the alleged harassment and extortion by thugs and cultists at the south gate of the institution.

During the protest which lasted a few hours, two students escaped death following the reckless driving of a driver, trying to manoeuvre through the blockade set up by the students.

One of the students, who gave his name as Ayo Bami said the thugs who were always around the South Gate entrance of the school on Sunday evening beat up the school’s Students Union leader.

The student added that after the beating, some students were chased by the thugs into the school premises.

“The boys at South gate are cultists and also indigenes of the community. They keep harassing our students and extorting them for money.

If you are well dressed they will stop you and collect your money. Sometimes they force students to make bank transfers. They beat up our student union leader yesterday.

Speaking on the development, the Spokesman for the institution, Adebanjo Adegbenro, said it was not a protest but a sensitisation march against actions of some persons living close to the South gate who have been bullying some of the young students.

“Sometimes, they also rob them. It is a sensitisation March and also to let the security know the behaviour of these individuals.”