Usmanu Danfodiyo University Closed As Students Protest

The Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto was on Tuesday forced to be closed indefinitely by the management over protest by students.

The decision to close the University, according to its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Riskuwa Arabu Shehu during a press briefing at the institution, followed students' protest against the lack of 24 hours of electricity in the University.

"A group of students came to the residential houses of the University at around 8.30pm and forced open the gate to VC's house. They were shouting all sorts of slogans against non supply of 24 hours electricity," Prof. Shehu said.

"The development came as a surprise to us because we can't guarantee 24 hours supply of electricity. This is a nationwide problem about which even the leadership is battling," he continued.

On the University's efforts to ensure relative power supply, the VC said, "In every 18 to 20 days, we buy 22,000 litres of diesel. The last purchase before the protest was brought in by 7pm on 26th May. More so, we supplied four tankers of water from the town, but these efforts were not appreciated by the students."

He said that it was against the rules of the University to demonstrate at nite, even to residential quarters. "It is with pain that we took the decision to close the University indefinitely. We will set up a committee to investigate the incident and nobody found to have a hand in it will be spared," Prof. Shehu added.



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