Category: Campus Life

The peace of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) was shattered when two gunmen opened fire on a student, but he escaped unhurt. Irate students lynched one of them; the other was beaten to a pulp, ESTHER MARK (Mass Communication) reports. 

All was calm at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) that fateful Wednesday. There was no sign of the violence that would later engulf the campus.

A part-time Management Science student, Lydia, woke up that morning hale and hearty. She left for school to write her final exam. After the exam, she followed her course mates to the main library garden for photographs. She was posing before a camera when a shot came from nowhere. Lydia was hit by a bullet on her left arm, below the shoulder. She fell immediately; and, out of fear, her colleagues ran for dear life.

The peace on campus was shattered. Members of the National Association of English and Literary Students (NAELS), who were holding election in their department, scampered for safety. Students, receiving lecture in a four-storey building, almost jumped down as gunshots rang out. Two students lost consciousness amid the chaos.

Many students had thought it was a Boko Haram attack. After recovering from the shock, they discovered that it was an attempt on the life of a male student. When they learned that the gunmen had wounded their colleagues, students went wild.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the main target of the assailants, a 300-Level Psychology student, ducked when the gunmen shot at him. He was said to have disappeared immediately from the scene. When they learned their attack had failed, the assailants took to their heels, shooting sporadically. Students went after them.

They were chased from the permanent site library to the Red Bricks near the main gate, then to the Abuja Hostel. One of the gunmen was overpowered on the bridge between the Red Bricks and Abuja Hostel. The students, who were angered by the rumour of Lydia’s death, descended on the gunman and hit him with various weapons till he died.

Students went after the second gunman. He was caught at the Aluta Centre in the Abuja hostel; the attacker was almost killed before he was rescued by security operatives. Eyewitnesses said the gunman attempted to shoot the security man working in centre but the trigger seized. That was the time the angry students arrived.

As the drama unfolded, Students’ Union Government (SUG) officials arrived in their mini bus and pleaded with the mob not to apply jungle justice. But the irate students pounced on the SUG officials and chased them away from the scene. The vice president of the union was said to have lost her pair of shoes as she ran for safety.

The members of Plateau State Special Task Force (STF) were called to control the lawlessness. The assailant, who was almost dead, was rescued by the task force.

Furious students blocked the way as the soldiers tried to move out of the campus. The STF men were said to have put their Toyota Hillux van on full motion to disperse the students.

By press time, the reason for the assassination bid was yet to be ascertained. The two students, who were rumoured dead, were rushed to the University Health Centre.

One of them, Uju Imo, 100-Level English, who voted in her department’s election a few minutes before the incident, was said to be with her friends when she was suddenly hit on the head by a stone being hurled at the gunmen during the chase. Uju was discharged the following day.

Recounting her experience to CAMPUSLIFE, Uju, whose parents are lecturers in the university, said: “I went to vote with friends in my department’s election, after which we heard gunshots. As we tried to run for safety, I saw students chasing two guys with guns. One of the stones hit me and I fell down. People thought I had been hit by a stray bullet and rushed me to the health centre. I am really grateful to God because it could have been worse. The injury was not serious because I was discharged the next day from the school centre.”

Speaking, the Deputy Registrar, Information and Communications, Mr Steve Otowo, said the gunmen were not students of the institution. He said: “Two gunmen came to the campus and started shooting. The bullet hit a student but the gunmen were pursued by angry students who killed one of them. The other was almost killed before the security men of the STF came and whisked him away to the hospital. I want to categorically state that none of the gunmen was a student of the institution. Their mission to the school is still being investigated.”

The Chief Security Officer, Shoky Bature, told CAMPUSLIFE: “The gunmen were after a 300-Level student of Psychology. Unfortunately for them, the bullet hit another student while the main target escaped unhurt. After the incident, the student was interrogated by the security. We discovered that he had an injury but there was no physical trace of blood. An X-ray had to be conducted and it was discovered he had a bullet in his stomach. He was transferred to Bingham University Teaching Hospital where an operation was conducted on him to remove the bullet. Where he got the bullet wound from, and why the assailants were in school to kill him, are being investigated. Right now, he is recuperating at the Bingham Teaching Hospital.”

A student and resident of Abuja Hostel, Peter Istifanus, said: “We cannot fold our hands and watch criminals inflict pain on us. We cannot be battling ethnic crisis in the state and yet we won’t have peace on campus. This is why the angry students descended on the gunmen.”

By the time of filing this report, Lydia was still recuperating in an undisclosed hospital but CAMPUSLIFE gathered that her condition was stable.

Meanwhile, because of the incident, many departmental elections have been postponed till further notice. Otowo advised students to be security-conscious and not to engage themselves in unlawful killing.

I first read about what is now termed the “Mubi Massacre” where 40 (some reports say 26, others say 30, is one life not precious?) tertiary institutions students were murdered in cold blood on Reuters a few hours after it happened. My first reaction was to castigate the foreign media for being at it again. I began monitoring the local media, but it was all blank. A few hours after the Reuters report it was picked up and actually appeared in the online version of some newspapers. A cold chill went down my spine; I was shocked, befuddled and dumbfounded at the same time. Who or which group carried out this senseless murder? What was the motive? What would anyone gain by killing undergraduates? My mind was abuzz with questions that I could not find ready answers to.

Perhaps we need to refresh ourselves. On Independence Day, a group of yet to be identified assailants stormed three tertiary institutions in the town of Mubi, Adamawa State, the Federal Polytechnic, Adamawa State University and the School of Health Technology. About 26 students were killed at the Federal Polytechnic with the other two institutions accounting for 14 deaths. Authorities of the polytechnic were forced to close the institution. The students of Federal Polytechnic, Mubi were said to have defied their ongoing semester examinations and packed their bags and luggage’s to use the free period preceding the curfew imposed on the town to flee. Students who were lucky boarded commercial vehicles while the not so lucky patronized trailers to leave the town. Those not fortunate enough to meet up the free time opted to trek over 15kilometres to Mararaba to board buses going to Maiduguri, Yola or anywhere.

Lecturers and students who witnessed the gory spectacle said that some of those killed were final year students who were preparing to defend their academic projects while others were starting their examinations to move to the next class. In Abuja, the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, briefed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the killings which elicited condemnations from all members. As has become the norm now, Presidential spokesman. Dr. Reuben Abati said President Jonathan described the killings as tragic, sad, barbaric and shocking.

“The President has directed security agencies to investigate the matter and get to the root because this kind of incident, where people were called out and shot, is really shocking. He directed that no stone should be left unturned in the bid by the law enforcement agencies to ensure that perpetrators of the mayhem are brought to book”. Abati said government regretted that the massacre occurred when considerable progress was being made in tackling the security challenges in some parts of the country.

The Senate, on the other hand, urged President Jonathan to expeditiously apprehend the killers and prosecute them. The upper Legislative Chamber also observed one-minute silence in honour statutes. The Senators “expressed sadness and anger over the massacre.”

After the condemnations, reports from witnesses started filtering out about victims being called by name before being killed and talks about students’ union elections just a few days before the killings. If this is linked to union elections or cult activities, then it’s very scary and portends danger for tertiary education in Nigeria. I refer to myself as an incurable optimist always believing that something good will eventually emanate out of Nigeria someday; the undergraduates I interact with regularly through this noble Campus Life project gives me such hope, but I must confess that my hope is at its lowest ebb as I review these unnecessary killings for a number of reasons.

In the first instance, if it is confirmed that the incident is linked to student union elections, then the terror campaign in the country would have entered a very dangerous phase that could have far reaching repercussions. I say this because if you put weapons in the hands of educated and intelligent young men without direction, conscience, vision and morals then you’re courting disaster of unimaginable proportion. We’ve seen the sophistry of our so called yahoo yahoo boys in the area of scam and fraud, translate this to a terror campaign and you’ll begin to imagine how I’m feeling right now.

The domino effect of the killings, according to witnesses, got to the level that Christians and people of southern extraction started moving from places with more problems to those presumed to have more Christians and vice versa. Wuro Puteji, with its high concentration of churches and many people from the minorities such as Higgi, Marghi, Fali etc, looked a reasonable alternative with its high population of students, making it look neutral and having a balanced mix. A lecturer who witnessed the incident was quoted as saying, “We got to Mubi on time and were surprised to note that there were no checkpoints, although in Song, Gombi, Hong and Marraraba, these checkpoints were there days earlier when the JTF carried out its massive house to house checks resulting in arrests and discovery of weapons.”

The systematic and coordinated manner the killings were carried out also calls for concern given the fact that the killers went to three institutions the same night to carry out their dastardly act! Since the dreaded Boko Haram has not come out openly to claim responsibility, we are left to work with the hypothesis that it might be connected to the union election, and if it is, then we cannot rule out cultists taking over to settle perceived or imagined scores.

Another reason for concern is the easy way arms and ammunition is easily “acquired” in Nigeria. Who gave the murderers the sophisticated weapons they used? Who tracks the inflow of arms into the country? Who taught them how to use the weapons? These are issues we have to grapple with. Are our campuses now a training ground for future terrorists who may use the high rate of unemployment as an excuse to rob, kill, maim and run this country aground? I’m worried because an educated terrorist can effectively use propaganda to confuse the real issues on ground.

As a result of the frequency of similar attacks, Nigerians are no longer shocked by news of these terrible happenings. Our collective psyche-I say this to our shame- have become so benumbed that sanctity of life does not mean much any longer! Often times, we see the Police and witnesses trading banters about the number of lives lost, this ought not to be so. Neither joblessness, nor hunger, anger nor anything else, could justify the culture of impunity that pervades the nation these days. Anything short of a thorough investigation into the incident in Mubi should not suffice. There should be no cover-ups, no scapegoats, and no half measures. Our tertiary institutions should be a place for providing solutions to the complex challenges facing the nation and not a ground for these complexities to fester. Given all the stories and the theories as to what might have been responsible, it is important for the security agencies to ascertain what really happened and why; and also ensure that culprits (if it is confirmed that they have a hand in it) are apprehended and brought to book.

The manner of the execution of the Mubi killings, no doubt, points to some form of premeditation. The victims were called out from their rooms and properly identified before being killed, according to some accounts. Those who attempted to run were gunned down. One gory account was that of an old man who was killed because he could not produce his son who was allegedly marked for death. When and how did things get so bad in this country that human life is no longer sacred? What manner of future “leaders” are we grooming?

Anslem Ekechukwu graduated last month in Law from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka. When he was in school, he established Anseek Designers, a fashion and modelling outfit popular among students in the Southeast. Anslem shared his passion with UCHE ANICHEBE (500-Level Law).

What informed the name of your fashion company, Anseek?

It is a combination of my first name and surname. ANSEEK is a fashion label based in the eastern part of Nigeria, which specialises in male outfits, especially suits and shirts. We are also involved in modelling and recruiting of prospective models of both genders; we train them and ignite their potential.

What is your appraisal of the Nigeria fashion industry?

Nigeria fashion industry has taken a new look unlike a few years back. Now, we see much creativity and style in people’s sense of dressing. We no longer copy the western mode of dressing and it makes me feel good that our own native attires have been modernised to reflect our identity.

What has Anseek achieved in fashion and modelling trades?

We have made some progress that encouraged us to work harder. We discovered and trained the current Miss Anambra, Ijeoma Mbonu, who was also the first runner-up of the Southeast Beauty Pageant. Also, the first runner-up of Mr Glo, Janel Ilem, had his modelling training under our outfit. In 2010, Apex Entertainment honoured me with the award of Best Creative Designer in Enugu. Also, Law Students Association (LAWSA) in UNIZIK awarded me the Best Student Entrepreneur in 2010 and 2012.

How did you combine fashion and academic?

Everything in life is all about determination. I had the zeal to study law as first degree, and also have the passion for fashion. The two areas are really a responsibility for me. Though, the situation posed a great challenge for me but it kept me going while I was in school. My philosophy is: if a man does not have challenge, he will never know his strength.

Do you think that the calendar of tertiary institutions favours entrepreneurship?

No, because the university system makes students to go through tasks that are time-consuming. Universities’ calendars don’t allow students to have time for other activities except reading and reading. No. This is not the way it should be done. But this is the situation we have found ourselves in this country.

What are the challenges besetting student entrepreneurship?

The major challenge is finance. I remember using my school fee and house rent to start Anseek and I don’t think many youth can take such risk. If you understand where you are going, you will do something extra to get something extraordinary. Government should help students that have passion for entrepreneurship by giving them the financial support.

Were they really robbers? This is the question many are asking following the killing of four students of University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in Rivers State in Aluu community for alleged robbery. Their mates are threatening to attack the community if the allegation turns out to be false. CHRIS OKAFOR (Microbiology, UNIPORT) and GERALD NWOKOCHA report.

THEIR death first hit the airwaves through the social network media. It generated conversation, with those exchanging mails, wondering what they could have done to warrant being killed like that.

Ugonna, Lloyd, Tekena and Chidioka, all students of Universality of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in Rivers State, were lynched by some members of Aluu community last Friday after being accused of robbery.

Did they really rob? Who did they rob? Were they found with the stolen items? There were some of the questions asked by friends on the social media. Aluu is about 20 minutes walk through a bush path from the campus. Since their death, their mates have been spoiling for a fight with the community over the way they were killed.

Before their death, the community has been terrorised by robbers, who killed each time they came if they got nothing. During an attack, the robbers were said to have killed a family head and raped his daughter. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that this incident made the community to step up security.

However, there are still conflicting reports on the visit of the burnt students to the area. One account had it that the villagers caught them while returning from an operation. Guns, laptops and smart phones, such as Blackberry belonging to students living in the community were said to have been recovered from them.

Another account said the students were cultists who were rounded up during the initiation of new members. Yet another source said the victims were set up by a student, who owed one of them.

Students and members of Aluu community watched as the victims were beaten with sticks and other lethal weapons. Some of them took the pictures of the incident with camera phone and other devices. The video obtained by CAMPUSLIFE showed middle-age men placing tyres round the necks of the victims, with another holding a container of petrol. Then another threw a lit match from behind after the dying students were drenched with petrol.

But a student, who lives in the community, told CAMPUSLIFE that the students were not robbers as claimed by the community. “They were made to confess to killings and previous robberies because result of excess torture,” the student said.

Two of the victims – Ugonna and Lloyd – were cousins. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that they were upcoming rappers. Lloyd, who was known as Big L, won a rap contest, Turb Show, aired on Silverbird Television in Port Harcourt.

However, whether the lynched students were robbers or cultists, the community has been criticised for unlawfully killing them.

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, at an emergency State Executive Council meeting, condemned the action, describing it as barbaric. A former Vice President (Africa) of the World Bank, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, expressed outrage, saying something was fundamentally wrong with the nation. She described the killing as savagery. The traditional ruler of the community and some of his subjects have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Students condemned the act, threatening to attack the community.

According to Frank Weli, 300-Level Microbiology, the story about stealing of Blackberry phones and laptops is a lie. “The mob killed the students to probably make a point to robbers who have been terrorising the community,” he said.

A student, who lives in the community, said under condition of anonymity: “The allegation that the students stole phones and laptops is a lie. When they were being beaten, we could not see the materials that they claimed they stole. But none of us could talk because the people were violent and could rope any student who may want to stop them from killing the four students.”

Shola Akinjobi said the man that supervised the lynching should be arrested and killed also. “How could someone organise the killing of individuals in such a violent manner?” he asked. Bene Oweredada, another student, described the killing as brutal, said: “We can go on reprisal attack if we discover they didn’t steal anything.”

The management of UNIPORT has confirmed that the deceased were students. Addressing a press conference last Monday, the management named the students as Biringa Chidiaka Lordson, 200-Level Theatre Arts, with matriculation number U2010/1805036; Ugonna Kelechi Obuzor, 200-Level Geology, with matriculation number U2010/5565149; Mike Lloyd Toku, 200-Level Civil Engineering, with matriculation number U2010/3010094; and Tekena Erikena, whose details were still being sorted out at press time.

The Southwest zone of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has held a symposium on causes of security breaches and the way out. NURUDEEN YUSUF (300-Level Law, Lagos State University) reports.

How can religious bodies help the government to curb insecurity? The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Southwest zone, attempted an answer at its symposium on security challenges facing the country.

The symposium with the theme, Insecurity in Nigeria: Myth, reality and panacea, was held at the multi-purpose Hall of the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja.

The zone comprises Lagos State University (LASU), University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Ibadan (UI), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Federal Polytechnic, Ibadan (IBADAN POLY), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) and College of Education, Yewa, among others.

Dignitaries at the event included the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Hajia Idiat Adebule; former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, represented by Dr Bala Muhammed; Chief Imam of Lagos State Alhaji Garuba Akinola; Baba Adinni of Lagos Sheikh Hafeez Abou and Chief Missioner, Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman Ahmad

Others were Proprietor of Daaru Na’im Islamic Centre, Sheikh Imran Eleha, and Prof Abdulkareem Hussein, an emeritus professor of Medical Biochemistry.

Mushaua Alaran, the Amir of the zone, in his address, said the symposium was organised to address critical security challenges tearing the nation apart. He listed Boko Haram insurgency, Niger Delta militancy and kidnapping, among the myriad of socio-political and economic problems Nigeria is grappling with.

“These insurgencies that are being witnessed in Nigeria leave no one in doubt that all is not well with our nation. It is even more worrisome that some of the agitations emanating from dissident groups have religious connotations, thereby making many Nigerians have the erroneous belief that a religious war is being waged by adherents of a particular religion. Islam and Muslims have been the most vilified in this regard,” Mushaua said.

He added: “MSSN believe that the outcome of this symposium will provide the template for those at the helm of affairs to solve the problems that stand in the path of the progress of our nation.”

Dr Muhammed noted that the root of the present insecurity in Nigeria could be found in mass poverty and social injustice. He urged the government not to rely on force in containing insecurity. He said establishment of a righteous society would naturally put an end to the challenges. He advised the youth to cultivate the good attitude such as integrity, respect for law and order, hard work and prudency.

Sheikh Ahmad, who spoke on Solving security challenges in the prophetic era: Its relevance in the present dispensation, noted that Prophet Muhammed faced similar challenges in Mecca before he migrated to Medinah.

“The Prophet (SAW) created an egalitarian, just, morally-upright and stable society to solve the problems. He involved settlers and migrants to build the society, offered a good leadership example, preached justice and addressed poverty,” the Islamic scholar said.

He added: “To tackle security challenges in Nigeria, we need a sovereign national conference; we need dialogue more than ever in this country, we need to discuss our fundamental religious rights, the people must be given a sense of belonging and then their human rights.”

Hajia Adebule urged the youth not to engage in antagonism rather, “we should learn to understand the system and educate others by passing the right information and analyse the way forward.”

She said Muslims are organised people, advising the Muslim youth to promote unity in the country.

Sirajudeen Abdulazeez, MSSN national president, in his closing remarks, said insecurity was fast becoming a household name in Nigeria. “May Allah assist us in our quest to make this country a safe and secure place which will spring up development and truly make us great; may Allah accept this programme from us a responsibility to build one country and may He reward us accordingly,” he prayed.