A student of the College of Education, Gidan Waya in Jemaa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was on Monday shot dead during a protest against school fees hike.

The students were said to have embarked on a protest on Monday over the increase of tuition fees by the management of the institution.

According to eyewitnesses, the deceased had joined his colleagues in the protest, when security operatives stormed the scene apparently to disperse the protesters with minimum force.

Two other students were also shot but are currently receiving treatment at a hospital.

A student who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES anonymously for fear of sanction said the school authorities had suspended academic activities till July 5 to prevent the students from protesting against the new fees.

One of the protesting students identified the deceased as Umar Buta. He said one other student, Emmanuel Nathaniel, sustained injuries from a stray bullet but was responding to treatment.

The student said the security agents, including soldiers, police and civil defence officers, shot into the air to disperse the protesters.

The student said most of his colleagues are from poor homes and cannot pay the new fees following the devastating effects of the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government says it is awaiting full reports on the protest by students of the State College of Education, Gidan Waya.

The government through a statement by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, also debunked reports that it deployed security operatives to suppress protesting students.