…Protest cripples academic activities, CBT test postponed
Students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, on Tuesday shut down academic activities and blocked the Minna-Bida Road in protest over the alleged killing of a student by suspected robbers and worsening insecurity around off-campus hostels.
The protesters barricaded the institution’s main gate, preventing the Vice-Chancellor, principal officers, lecturers and other members of staff from accessing the campus.
The demonstration also disrupted the university’s scheduled computer-based aptitude test for 100- and 300-level students, leaving academic activities at a standstill.
The students alleged that the protest was triggered by the killing of one of their colleagues during a robbery attack three days ago, while another attack on Monday night reportedly left several students injured.
They accused the university management and relevant authorities of failing to tackle the growing insecurity around student residences outside the campus despite collecting a N10,000 security levy from every student each academic session.
Some of the protesting students insisted that repeated complaints over robberies and attacks in the affected communities had yielded little result, prompting them to stage the demonstration.
Responding to the development, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs Lydia Legbo, said the management had commenced discussions with relevant stakeholders to restore peace and strengthen security around off-campus student communities.
She said efforts were ongoing to ensure normal academic activities resumed as soon as possible.
“We are engaging the relevant stakeholders to restore normalcy and improve security in the affected areas,” Legbo said.
The protest caused heavy traffic along the busy Minna-Bida Road as commuters and motorists were forced to seek alternative routes while students maintained their blockade.
As of the time of filing this report, normal academic activities had yet to resume, while the university management continued consultations aimed at resolving the crisis.
FOLLOW US
FOR MORE HERE
