The authorities of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, have announced an indefinite closure of the institution due to ongoing protests by its students.
Reported by The PUNCH, the protest erupted over a recent hike in tuition fees, with students also alleging that they were forcibly removed from examination halls for failing to pay the increased fees.
In a memo issued on Tuesday, Vice-Chancellor Maduebibisi Iwe stated that the decision to shut down the university was prompted by an incident earlier in the day when the institution was allegedly invaded by “miscreants” during an examination session.
According to Professor Iwe, these individuals pursued and confronted him within the university premises, resulting in damage to his vehicle and those of his officials.
The vice-chancellor noted that the alleged miscreants claimed they were denied entry to take their exams due to unpaid fees. However, he emphasized that the majority of the students had already paid their fees, with others in line to do so before the disturbance.
“To ensure the safety of lives and property on campus, the university management, on behalf of the Senate, has decided to indefinitely close the university,” stated Mr. Iwe.
He further instructed all students to vacate the university premises immediately, with a deadline set at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 6th, 2024.