UniAbuja shut as police, students clash

A peaceful demonstration organised by the students of University of Abuja yesterday turned violent leading to the closure of the institution indefinitely.

The protesting students, who attempted to gain access to the residential quarters of the university, had clashed with the police, who besieged the institution to restore law and order.

Following the development, the management of the university issued a statement for the closure of the institution indefinitely.

The statement signed by the Registrar Alhaji Muhammad Bello Modibbo said “given the prevailing situation in the university, the Vice Chancellor has on behalf of Senate approved that the university be closed down until further notice.

“You are hereby to vacate the hostel and the premises of the university immediately”.

Trouble started when some students in their hundreds, staged a peaceful demonstration in the early hours of yesterday to press home for the resumption of academic activities. They were prevented from gaining access into the school’s residential quarters by Police.

The students went wild and broke the gate to proceed to the quarters, while others jumped over the fence.

However, shortly after, armed policemen arrived the scene and dispersed them. Eyewitness and a student of the institution told Daily Trust the police tear-gassed the rioting students before they dispersed.

The students re-grouped at the main entrance of the university and started throwing stones at the policemen.

“One of the windscreens of the police patrol vans was smashed but normalcy returned to the school at about 1pm,” an eye witness said.

Spokesman of the university Alhaji Garba Waziri confirmed the incident. He said there was no loss of life or injury.