Some of the damages during the riot 


The Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe on Tuesday afternoon slammed immediate and indefinite  shutdown  of the University and suspension of academic activities following the violent protest which disrupted activities at the  school earlier 


"Miscreants took over the University, chasing and pursuing the Vice-Chancellor, damaging his official vehicle and those of his officials claiming that they were not allowed to take their first semester examinations owing to their failure to pay their charges", Prof Iwe stated in a statement he personally signed 


During the protest 


The VC, in the statement dated February 6, 2024, titled: 'Indefinite Shutdown of The University and Suspension of Academic Activities' absolved MOUAU students of the protest and laid the blame on miscreants.


Police vans at the gate of MOUAU 


According to him, over 70% of students had paid their tuition while others were in a queue to pay and so accused miscreants who invaded the school for the protest.

He therefore urged  students to leave the school premises before 5 pm on February 6 to  safeguard the school properties


Dailyledger.com.ng gathered that a circular dated  February 2,   by the Registrar, Dr. Mrs. Nkeiruka Mbanasor had advised  students to stay away from the first semester examinations if they had not paid their fees.


Some of the students, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN on the condition of anonymity, said they were protesting against the insensitivity of the VC, Prof. Iwe, and his management over the plight of the students.

“We started our first semester examination yesterday (Monday) and the vice chancellor came to the hall and sent out those who have not paid their schools fees.

“They increased our schools fees twice in 2023; some of us were paying about N50,000, but it is now between N120,000 and N150, 000.

“The vice chancellor insisted that students must pay it at once, even when we begged them to allow us pay in two installments for the two semesters,’’ one of the protesters said.

Another student said: “Some of us were stopped from writing the examination because our names were yet to appear after doing our biometrics. The management introduced the compulsory bio-data capture  for students this semester and it is still ongoing but they said that no student will write examination without it,’’ he said.

Some of the protesting students  said that they were final year students, complaining  that the action of the management would make it impossible for them to graduate with their set.

Neither the Students Union Government, SUG President, Emmanuel Chijioke, nor his executive members could be reached as at press time.