KNUST riots: Beating students 'shameful, unacceptable' – Joselyn Dumas

Ghanaian actress, Joselyn Dumas has condemned the ongoing riots on the campus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

On Monday, 22 October 2018, the students, led by the SRC, marched against what they described as unfair treatment by the university authorities and unwarranted assault on their colleagues by some security officers.

The demonstration turned ugly, resulting in the destruction of school properties. The students burnt car tyres, destroyed windows and doors of some buildings and blocked some roads on campus to prevent cars from moving.

Some security personnel who were deployed to the scene to restore peace allegedly assaulted the students.

Reacting to the riots in a series of tweets, Ms Dumas said the actions of the security officials was “shameful” and called on the university authorities and the SRC to curb the ongoing menace.

“Shame on the security officials of KNUST. Under no circumstance should anyone take the law into his hands & manhandle a student to the point of blood oozing out of his body. This is highly unacceptable. I entreat the school authorities & the SRC to curb the ongoing menace asap,” she tweeted.

Shame on the security officials of KNUST. Under no circumstance should anyone take the law into his hands & manhandle a student to the point of blood oozing out of his body. This is highly unacceptable. I entreat the School Authorities & the SRC to curb the ongoing menace asap. pic.twitter.com/D0woynywQI

Shame on the security officials of KNUST. Under no circumstance should anyone take the law into his hands & manhandle a student to the point of blood oozing out of his body. This is highly unacceptable. I entreat the School Authorities & the SRC to curb the ongoing menace asap. pic.twitter.com/D0woynywQI

— JOSELYN DUMAS® (@Joselyn_Dumas) October 22, 2018

She further advised the students against violence saying: “It is not the best way to vent your anger”.

“My dear KNUST students, violence is not the best way to vent your anger. I understand your frustrations but please cease the destruction of properties and allow the police and the authorities in charge to handle the issue and restore calm.”

My dear KNUST students, violence is not the best way to vent your anger. I understand your frustrations but please cease the destruction of properties and allow the Police and the authorities in charge to handle the issue and restore calm. #KNUSTcrisis. pic.twitter.com/aUcBvKk9y5

My dear KNUST students, violence is not the best way to vent your anger. I understand your frustrations but please cease the destruction of properties and allow the Police and the authorities in charge to handle the issue and restore calm. #KNUSTcrisis. pic.twitter.com/aUcBvKk9y5

— JOSELYN DUMAS® (@Joselyn_Dumas) October 22, 2018

The confusion comes on the back of the arrest of 10 students. The students with one alumnus were arrested by the police on Friday, 19 October 2018, for holding a vigil on campus without authorisation. The situation caused some angry parents to storm the KNUST police station to demand the release of their children. The students were later released but the university said it will not rest on the matter.

What am I hearing????? That the officers assigned to restore calm at KNUST are firing live bullets at students? Dear @GhPoliceService, how true is this?

— JOSELYN DUMAS® (@Joselyn_Dumas) October 22, 2018