The management of Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture in Umudike, Abia State, has stopped academic activities and beefed up security to forestall further protests in the institution after students demonstrated against a hike in school fees.
Scores of students of the citadel of higher learning on Tuesday evening were seen discussing and leaving the campus in groups amid tight security, while the presence of security personnel who were on the ground to forestall further protests was also seen.
One of the final-year students who identified himself as Kelechi Ofoedu told Channels Television that the development disrupted the first-semester examination, which started on Monday, appealing to the Federal Government to come to their rescue.
But hours after the protest which led to the destruction of the administrative block among others, the vice-chancellor signed a circular on behalf of the Senate, ordering the institution to close indefinitely.
The management cited safety concerns after clashes between students and security forces left property damaged and students injured.
The university administration released a statement claiming “miscreants took over the University, damaging property and vehicles”.
The statement read in part, “This is to notify the public that the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State woke up to experience the violation of the long-existing peace of the university this morning.
“To safeguard life and properties on campus, the university management has on behalf of the Senate ordered an indefinite shutdown of the university indefinitely.”
The school management advised all the students to vacate the university premises immediately or no later than 5.00 pm on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.
Efforts to reach Vice Chancellor Professor M. O. Iwe for comment regarding the alleged use of force and students’ claims proved unsuccessful as he promised to brief the press on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Student Union Government General Secretary, Enyioma Godslove, has in a statement appealed to the protesting students to shun violence, saying, “Continuous destruction of things and also hurting of our fellow students wouldn’t solve the problem.”
“I have taken it upon myself to plead on behalf of the Students Union Government for peace to prevail as we await the best thing to be done.”
A viral video seen by our correspondent on Tuesday evening shows some policemen parading the school premises with vans and shooting into the air at the main gate to disperse the protesting students causing chaos.
This act caused some market men and women to flee from their market stands causing them to leave their goods and run for their lives while the shootings continued.
