Riot averted in BSU over eviction of students from hostels

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Students of the Benue State University, Makurdi at the weekend faced forceful eviction from their hostels by the authorities of the university.

The incident almost sparked off riot in the institution especially that it was happening at a time the students were writing their second semester examinations.

A stranded female student who spoke to our correspondent on grounds of anonymity said on Saturday, 1st March, 2014, while they had retired to their hostels, a combined team of porters and security personnel stormed their hostel and ordered them to vacate the building.

“They packed our belongings and threw them outside and locked the place insisting that we were given notice and must obey”, she said.

She further said that about three days to the “unfortunate day”, they saw a notice signed by one James A. Uza on behalf of the Dean, Students Affairs Prof. Armstrong Adejo indicating that they must leave

the hostel on the 1st March, 2014, latest 6pm.

“ We were surprised when the notice stated that a new semester (2013/2014) was to start by 3rd March, 2014 because we are still writing exams and we will only finish on 7th March, 2014”, she lamented.

The development, it was learnt would have metamorphosed into a riot but for the fact that the team, avoided going to the male hostels after the male students allegedly threatened to hack down anyone who dare go to their hostels.

Meanwhile, several calls made to the Dean Students Affairs, Prof. Armstrong Adejo was not answered nor text sent to his phone replied.

However, Mr. Barnabas Hemba, Special Assistant to the Vice- Chancellor of the University simply dismissed the claims as “unfounded and misguided information”.