Students at the College of Health Sciences and Technology in Jega, Kebbi State, set fire to the residence of Provost Alhaji Haruna Saidu-Sauwa amid allegations of extortion.
The violent protest erupted over claims that college management had extorted N23 million from students for index registration for 250 graduating individuals.
Reports indicate that the controversy stemmed from a newly introduced Public Health program, which was previously affiliated with the Reproductive Health and Public Health Association of Nigeria. The college reportedly merged this program with the Department of Environmental Health to obtain certification, leading to an additional demand of N65,000 from each student for index registration, on top of the N30,000 already paid.
In response to the management’s alleged extortion, students reacted violently, vandalizing vehicles and igniting the provost’s home.
In a statement, Provost Saidu-Sauwa dismissed the allegations as “fictitious, baseless, and mischievous,” asserting that he had not colluded with any group in Oyo State to extort students. He denied claims regarding a newly introduced course that necessitated additional payments, calling such narratives the fabrications of those spreading the rumors.
He stated, “The publications in question cited an unknown source with their own version of events. I challenge that individual to substantiate their allegations of extortion and course duplication.
“I want to clarify that neither I nor the school management has any involvement in these alleged course duplications or extortion. Our institution operates a Single Treasury Account where all funds are deposited, and no one, including myself, has access to that account.”
In response to the unrest, SP Nafiu Abubakar, Public Relations Officer for the Kebbi State Police Command, stated that more information would be released once it is gathered from the Divisional Police Officer in Jega.
Order has since been restored at the college following intervention from security agencies, who dispersed the protesters.
