Students of Kaduna State University (KASU) on Monday shut out the university’s staff in protest against incessant attacks by hoodlums around the university campus.
The protest which lasted more than three hours in front of the university’s main gate, caused traffic gridlock along Tafawa Balewa Way.
The spokesperson of the students, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the protest became necessary following what he described as the nonchalant attitude of the school management over the security of students, particularly those living off campus.
He said that students were being attacked daily by hoodlums on their way home from school, and their belongings such as money, laptops, phones and other valuables snatched.
“Just yesterday, a 400 level Political Science female student was attacked, injured and is currently laying half paralyzed at the university’s teaching hospital.
“The student was preparing for a test today, and was attacked on her way home after reading in school. The hoodlums attacked her, took away her valuables and left her almost lifeless.
“Such attacks have been ongoing for a very long time; in fact, one of our students was killed recently by hoodlums. This has to stop,’’ he said.
He also complained that students were being harassed by the university security and urged the management to train the security personnel on human relations in line with global practices.
The students demanded that a security outpost be establish in all strategic locations, where students reside to curb the ugly trend.
“We don’t want the school security; we want the police to be permanently stationed around the school to provide the needed security,’’ he added.
The protest was suspended following the intervention of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tanko Mohammed, who pleaded with the students to embrace dialogue.
He noted the prevalence of security challenges in and around the school, but decried the fact that no formal complaint was made to him.
Mohammed said that the university’s management had engaged a security consultant to help address the problem.
He added that the university would discuss with the Commissioner of Police to beef up security around the school.
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