The administration of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, has closed the school indefinitely in response to a large-scale protest staged by students on Tuesday, 6th February 2024.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe, released a statement revealing this, saying that the university “woke up to experience the violation of the long-existing peace.”

The statement partly read, “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 1st Semester examination owing to their failure to pay their charges.”

Records from the university indicate that over 70% of students had paid their fees and were taking their exams in peace, while over 2,000 students were waiting in line to pay and register for their courses prior to the miscreants and hoodlums taking the stage to cause trouble and disturb the university’s long-standing calm.

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In order to protect people and property on campus, the Administration of the university, acting on behalf of the Senate, thus issued an order for the school to be closed indefinitely.

“All students are advised to vacate the university premises immediately, but not later than 5 pm on Tuesday, February 6, 2024,” the statement added.

On Tuesday, however, rumours have it that the students were demonstrating against the tuition increase.

The Registrar, Dr Nkeiruka Mbanasor, issued a circular earlier on February 2, 2024, informing students that those who had not paid their fees would not be permitted to take their exams.

It was discovered that the costs had increased by more than 60%.

Upon being called, the Abia State Police Command verified the demonstration and said that the officers had fulfilled their constitutional obligation to maintain peace.

“The command is aware of the students’ unrest that happened at MOUAU Umudike by the students. In line with our professional and constitutional duty in ensuring the peace and security of the state, the Commissioner of Police detailed men to that place and officers who were deployed there calmed down the situation,” stated ASP Maureen Chinaka, the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO).

According to the PPRO, In contrast to when they began the protest, the neighbourhood is quiet right now. The scene is quiet now that the police have managed to clear the road. She also stated that the Police were deployed in the best interests as professionals to maintain the State’s security and tranquillity.

Talking about the shots heard, the PPRO explained, “In occasions like this, we use smoke and we do not shoot in the air. So, it must have been the teargas that was used to disperse those people rioting. We do not shoot in the air and the unrest has been calmed.”