UMUDIKE, ABIA STATE – Staff of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, UMUDIKE, have shared their harrowing experiences during Tuesday’s riot by protesting students, claiming they narrowly escaped harm as the situation escalated.
According to some staff members, the protest, which was reportedly sparked by an increase in tuition fees, turned violent and led to destruction of school property. The university’s management has contended that the protest was hijacked by troublemakers, but some staff members have recounted being forced to flee through a bush path behind the school to avoid the angry mob of students.
One staff member, Igwe Azubuike Chizoba, and a lecturer, Mrs Ngozi Olundu, described how they fled their offices and took refuge in a nearby community to avoid being assaulted by the protesting students. Mrs Olundu also revealed that her colleagues who remained in the office were subjected to brutal beatings by the mob.
As a result of the riot, the school grounds were strewn with debris of destroyed property, including the largest examination hall, office buildings, school chairs, and vehicles. The school’s Public Relations Officer, Patrick Opara, was also reportedly evacuated from the school amidst the chaos of the riot.
The University management, while shutting down the school in the wake of the riot, maintained that the perpetrators were not genuine students, but rather “miscreants” who disrupted an ongoing examination. However, the extent of the destruction caused by the riot is still being assessed by the university. Additionally, stern-looking policemen were stationed at strategic locations in the university premises following the riot.
The riot at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture has raised concerns about the safety and security of staff and students. It also brings attention to the underlying issues leading to such protests, such as the financial burden on students and the management’s response to their grievances. The university now faces the task of rebuilding and addressing the grievances of the students to prevent future incidents.
The aftermath of the riot has left the university community in shock, and the management will need to carefully navigate the situation to restore peace and normalcy on campus. As the investigation into the riot continues, the university must also work to engage students and address their concerns in a proactive and constructive manner.