By Faith Igbudu
The student who was rumoured to have been slapped by the Vice Chancellor of Benue State University (BSU), Prof. Tor Iorapuu, had earlier demonstrated signs of a mental problem, explained National Union of Benue State Students (NUBESS) BSU chapter President, Comr. Desmond Nande.
The president who described the student as an activist and a unionist who is calm and peaceful, exclaimed that he cannot say what went wrong but he perceived a psychological problem.
Narrating the incident to The Voice, Comr. Nande explained that, “on the said day, a 300 level student of Sociology Department named Toro Ungwa Federick came to school bare chested, saying he came for protest and he was alone.
“He got into campus and went straight to the Vice Chancellor’s car park wanting to seat on the bonnet of the VCs car. However, he was apprehended by security agents who took them to their post.
“According to him his concern was that if the school fees is not reduced, he will die there. He injured himself to get blood with which he used to write much on the placard he had.
“When the security arrested and took him to the security post, they demanded to see guardians or parents. His younger brother who is equally a student of the said institution was the first to reach before his parents.
“My interaction with the younger brother, revealed that the troubled student has been acting strange for somedays, prior to the said incident. He said he will come back from school and isolate and lock up and not talk to anyone. We perceive that it was a psychological or mental problem.
“The rumour that the VC slapped him was not true as the VC was only briefed about the situation and he saw the said student only when the father came” he concluded.
