Niger: Angry students lock out VC over insecurity

By Nda Alhaji Students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, protesting alleged recurring robbery attacks off campus, blocked the institution’s gate on Tuesday. The protest disrupted academic activities in the institution. The students initially blocked Minna-Bida road as early as 8am, leaving travellers stranded. They later moved to block the main gate […]

By Nda Alhaji

Students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, protesting alleged recurring robbery attacks off campus, blocked the institution’s gate on Tuesday.

The protest disrupted academic activities in the institution.

The students initially blocked Minna-Bida road as early as 8am, leaving travellers stranded.

They later moved to block the main gate of the institution before the vice Chancellor arrived.

• Access Code: Peter Obi’s name has been uploaded on INEC portal – NDC leader
• Troops kill 2 terrorists, arrest 8 suspects in Kaduna, Zamfara

Efforts to calm the protesting students by the Vice Chancellor were unsuccessful as students asked him to leave.

It took several hours before the university security created a way for the Vice Chancellor to gain access into the university.

Several staff including the Deputy Vice Chancellors and top management officials and academic staff were denied entry into the university.

Many of them eventually returned home as students insisted that no one would again access.

Daily Trust gathered that the university was to commence computer aptitude semester test for 100 and 300 level students, but the plan was truncated by the protest.

One of the students, who preferred anonymity, told Daily Trust that one student was killed in a robbery attack three days ago, while another robbery attack last night left some students injured.

“For the past one week, we have not had it comfortable with the rate of robbery attacks . We have continued to lose our valuables including our laptops and phones. Some of my colleagues were injured last night. Should we continue like this? We are not safe honestly speaking,” he said.

He alleged that they had reported several times to the university management, but no action had been taken to protect them.

A staff member of the institution told Daily Trust on condition of anonymity that the students were provoked by the N10,000 security charges they pay every session.

He blamed the university management for not taking measures to address the off campus security concerns.

When contacted, the Dean Students Affairs of the institution, Professor Bashir Ganiyu, said the university was already in talks with the police Command in the state to ensure adequate securityt off campus.

He said the off campus security is under the watch of the police and university management had equally engaged vigilantes to complement the effort of the police.

“We re handling the situation. The Off Campus security is under the control of the police. Notwithstanding we have vigilantes to assisting the police. Even the Commissioner of Police is aware of our challenge and the matter will be addressed,” he said.

Calls put across to the head of Information of the institution, Lydia Legbo, were unanswered.

The Spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, did not also respond to a message sent to his phone.