Rampaging secondary school students in Imo State have threatened to disrupt the peaceful conduct of 2007 general elections in the state, should Governor Achike Udenwa fail to implement free education as against alleged frivolous increment of their school fees.

Our correspondent reports, that the capital city of Owerri was on Friday thrown into confusion, following a violent demonstration embarked upon by the students, who accused the state government of extorting their parents through arbitrary hike in fees.

The demonstrators numbering well over 2000, between the ages of 10 years and above, trooped out en-mass from major secondary schools located within Owerri and headed towards the Government House to register their feelings.

They chanted some anti-government slogan such as, “ give us free education, no free education, no 2007 election in Imo State, we need free education like other states, Udenwa has failed us, the fees are too much for our parents to pay.’’

Speaking to The Tide on their grievances, one of the male students (nameswitheld) from Urban Development Secondary School, Douglas Road, Owerri appealed for the assistance of journalists in conveying their agitation to the appropriate authorities.

According to him, JSS-lll students in public schools were asked to pay N10, 000 for admission into the SSS-1, N30, 000 for WAEC/NECO registration and school fees of N8, 500 with N2, 500 special PTA levies.

The protesting students, protested for several hours barricaded the major Wetheral / Okigwe Road roundabout leading to Government House, Owerri and State police headquarters, with logs of wood, iron and burning tyre, forcing shops, offices and other business operators to close down for the day.

Attempt by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Moronike, his deputy Mr. Orubebe among other top-officers who walked down from their respective offices to the scene, in order to address the restive students proved abortive. But anti-riot policemen were busy beating, flogging and molesting the irate pupils with heavy stick and indiscriminate shooting of tear gas. Majority of the children sustained various degrees of injuries in the process.

The demonstrators in retaliation threw sachets of pure water, broken bottles, stones and sticks on the officers. Commuters, okada riders and passers-by ran helter-skelter for safety, the demonstration caused traffic hold up for more than five hours.

Meanwhile, public properties such as street lights, ornamentals, posters, bill boards belonging to politicians, including that of Governor Udenwa among others were damaged during the mayhem.

Efforts by our correspondent to contact the state Commissioner for Education Dr. Gloria Chukukere for comments failed.

Reacting on the ugly scene, a parent who preferred anonymity condemned the hike in school fees and questioned the rational behind the Universal Basic Education (UBE) in the state when some school buildings around the capital city and beyond are still in dilapidated conditions.