University of Ibadan Shut Down as Students Protest Victimization

Nigeria’s oldest tertiary Institution, University of Ibadan, UI, has been shutdown this morning after protesting students went on rampage over what they perceived as victimization by the school management.

The protesting students alleged that the university authorities singled out a student for punishment in the wake of last month’s protest over poor facilities, drawing the ire of the entire student community.

Michael Epeti, a final-year Petroleum Engineering student who had a semester left to graduate was rusticated for taking part in the last protest, forcing the students to shut down the main gate of the school this morning, threatening security personnel in the process.

The protest shut down all activities in the school , forming a monstrous gridlock on the UI Road. Motorists wanting to gain entrance into the institution could not do so as all gates leading to the school were shut.

The students vowed not to end the protests until the management of the premiere institution reverse their decision and take urgent steps to improve living conditions on the campus.

A former student’s union leader of the school, popularly called ‘Tcool’ decried the alleged victimization by management, pointing out that if the students did not fight it out now, more students would suffer the same fate in the future.

Source: The News