Armed soldiers and riot
policemen have taken over the security of Bayelsa State owned Niger University (NDU), Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, following three days of violent students protest that led to destruction of property worth millions of Naira.
The protest is said to be superheaded by final year and 200 level engineering students of the university.
The protest which began last Friday by final year engineering students resulted in the destruction of property worth hundreds of millions of Naira which made the Vice Chancellor, Humphrey Ogoni to closed down the institution.
The students have been given 24 hours to leave the institution but nothing was said of the 2015/2016 matriculation which was earlier scheduled this weekend neither did he mention the forthcoming convocation of the institution which is expected to hold in March as the school is yet to decide when students will be asked to return to classes.
It was gathered that this is the first time, the institution would be experiencing students unrest since its establishment over 13 years ago by the administration of Chief Diepreye Alamieyesigha, the first executive governor of the state.
The Tide gathered that the final year students were protesting the decision of the university’s management not allowing them to re-register for some courses in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry under the acronym, MPC.
It is understood that after seven years, students who failed in those courses would be expelled but after the violent protest last Friday, the Vice Chancellor assured them that they would be allowed to register for those courses again.
However, the same final year students again held another violent protest that the courses should be cancelled since they had passed that level which the Vice Chancellor again acceded to.
It, however, came to a head yesterday when 200 level engineering students also held another round of protest that resulted in the destruction of property, as they were joined by hoodlums from the community.
Friday Nwagbara, Calabar
