Students from the College of Health Sciences and Technology in Jega, Kebbi State, have taken drastic action, setting fire to the residence of the college Provost, Haruna Saidu-Sauwa. The unrest stems from allegations of extortion, with claims that the college management demanded N23 million in fees.
In addition to torching the provost’s residence, the students also vandalized his vehicle during the protest.
The riot reportedly erupted following accusations that the college management had imposed the hefty sum on students for index registration. These allegations surfaced after the college introduced a new Public Health programme, merging it with the Environmental Health department. As a result, students were required to pay an additional N65,000, on top of the N30,000 they had already paid, according to a report by PUNCH.
Frustrated by what they saw as extortion, the students resorted to violence, pelting vehicles with stones and setting fire to the provost’s home. A source within the college linked the unrest to the sudden financial demand, which had sparked widespread anger among students. Many staff members fled before security personnel arrived to restore order.
Provost Haruna Saidu-Sauwa denied the extortion allegations, describing them as “fictitious, baseless, and mischievous.” He dismissed claims that he had orchestrated any scheme to extort N23 million from the students, labeling the accusations as unfounded and based on misinformation.
Saidu-Sauwa questioned the validity of the complaints, pointing out that every student’s course details, including qualifications, were clearly stated in their admission letters. He challenged those making the accusations to provide concrete evidence to back their claims.
The provost further clarified that the school operates under a Treasury Single Account (TSA), meaning that all payments are securely managed and no individual, including himself, has direct access to the funds. He also accused the media of publishing unverified reports to serve the interests of certain “paymasters” aiming to damage the college’s reputation.
“We are grateful that no one was injured in the incident, and we are working closely with security personnel to identify those responsible for organizing the protest, which led to the damage of my vehicle and other college properties,” Saidu-Sauwa stated. He called on both students and staff to remain calm as investigations into the matter continue.
Meanwhile, SP Nafiu Abubakar, the Public Relations Officer of the Kebbi Police Command, confirmed that the situation had been brought under control. He added that further details would be provided once the Divisional Police Officer in Jega submits a full report on the incident.
The college, recognized for producing skilled healthcare professionals, now finds itself grappling with concerns over its ethical practices amid this controversy.
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