Troops of the Nigerian Army on Tuesday shot into the air to disperse students of higher institutions who staged a protest in Akure, Ondo State, over the 92-day-old strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Footages circulated on social media show the protesting students scampering for safety as the soldiers fired gunshots to scare away the protesters from the road.

A witness, identified simply as Samuel, told Peoples Gazette that students of the Federal University of Technology had assembled in front of the north gate of the university to protest when the soldiers tried to disperse them.

The witness said no injury had been recorded from the incident, adding that the students gathered at the FUTA junction were blocking the major road, prompting the military to disperse “everybody and damage our stuff.”

Surprise Omotoso, Ondo state chapter chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Students, said security personnel, including the state commissioner of police, were on ground monitoring the protest.

Mr Omotoso said the military personnel suddenly appeared and fired shots at the unarmed protesters, scattering the canopies and instruments.

“It all started as a peaceful protest, security personnel including the commissioner of police were on ground,” he said.

“The Nigerian military personnel started shooting at the peaceful protesters, destroying our instruments and canopies. We just want to know why they disrupted the protest without addressing us,” he said.

A military spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, did not return multiple calls and messages from The Gazette seeking comments on Tuesday afternoon.

Similar protests have been held across major cities in Lagos, Oyo, Osun, where students are agitating for the reopening of universities.