There was a case of civil unrest in the South-western part of Nigeria following the purported r*pe of a student by an indigene.

Students of College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, yesterday embarked on violent demonstration to protect alleged r*pe of a female colleague (names withheld) by a commercial bus driver.

The 200 Level student was allegedly r*ped by a commercial bus driver conveying her back to school along College- Igbara Odo way on Sunday.

The lady, said to be having malaria, had left the campus for medication in town. But while she was returning to school about 8p.m.the driver, popularly called Akoto, suddenly stopped the bus on the way and r*ped her.

Enraged, students of the college, who got wind of the incident, took to the streets yesterday to protest the assault.

The students blocked the Ado-Ikere-Akure Road, which caused disruption of traffic flow for several hours.

Those travelling to Akure had to return to Ado-Ekiti to prevent being caught in the web of violence which engulfed the town.

The protest also disrupted commercial activities at Odo- Oja area of Ikere-Ekiti as many of the traders hurriedly closed shops to prevent looting of their wares.

It was learnt that the lady has been taken to the hospital for treatment. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Alberto Adeyemi, confirmed the incident.

He said rape was the highest point of criminality which would not be tolerated.

The PPRO added that normalcy had returned to the town and that the police had launched manhunt for the alleged r*pist.