He Gusau Federal UniversityZamfara state, expelled four students and reportedly restricted others’ access to its registration portal for protesting insecurity two months ago.
Newslodge reported that 34 students were invited to face a disciplinary committee before going on semester break for participating in the protest.
Three of the students questioned said they have been given expulsion letters, while others are waiting to receive their expulsion letters from the school management. Most of the accused students are in the 300 or 400 level.
During the protest, some of the students said that they were tired of being kidnapped by terrorists.
Zamfara, like many other northwest states, is facing a terrorist uprising that has lasted for more than a decade.
The terrorists, locally called bandits, attack rural communities, travelers and educational institutions.
Many students have been kidnapped during that period.
Three of the students, Rejoice Guga, Georgina Bulus and Abdulsalam Onimisi, said they had collected their expulsion letters. Newslodge saw the letter from Mr. Guga.
Letter of expulsion of Mrs. Guga.
“For now, four of us have collected their expulsion letters from the management; Other students have not returned from semester breaks,” said Ms. Guga.
“The Directorate of the University in its 84th emergency meeting held on August 3, 2023 considered the report of the commission of investigation on the student demonstration of June 17, 2023, as well as the attempted demonstration to prevent students from They will write the exams for the second semester 2021/2022. on Monday, June 19, 2023. The committee has found him guilty of violating the demonstration rules contained in Section A, item xxv, page 60 and Section H, item vii page 63 of the student handbook.
“Therefore, the committee has recommended that you be expelled from the university for organizing and participating in the two protests…” read part of the expulsion letter sent to Ms. Guga.
Ms. Guga, a 400-level Plant Science and Biotechnology student, said the students did not attack any buildings or prevent their classmates from entering or leaving the university during their protest.
It is unfair
One of the students who took part in the protests, who asked not to be named, said he would not bother going to the school to pick up his expulsion letter.
He said that it was unfair that the vice chancellor made such a decision because he addressed them during the demonstration.
“After the protest that followed the kidnapping of our fellow students, a committee asked to see us a week after the exams. They kept pulling out lists of those they wanted to see at school. We were like 30.
“Before entering the room (office), they pick up your phone, check your photos and delete the photos of the protesters,” a student, who requested anonymity, told Newslodge in one of a series of WhatsApp voice notes. .
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In one of the voice memos, the student said she felt “terrible” confronting committee members because they were asking her questions that were “trying to make me feel guilty for protesting.”
Although she has not returned yet, she said she knows her fate as she was no longer able to access the school’s online portal.
the university speaks
Contacted by Newslodge, university spokesman Umar Usman said he was unaware of the expulsion of the students.
He asked for time to get details of the incident from the school management.
But when this journalist told him that he had copies of the expulsion letters and the list of 34 students invited for questioning, Mr. Usman said that what was in the dismissal letter should be used as the reason for expulsion.
List of guests for questioning by university authority
“As you said that you saw the dismissal letter and a reason was given for the decision, I think I have nothing to add. That is the position of the University,” Usman said by phone.