NEWS
Why PLASU Students Should Pay N7,000 Fine Each – Acting VC
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Acting Vice Chancellor of the Plateau State University Bokkos, Prof. Shedrack Gaya Best has disclosed reasons why students of the University must pay the sum of N7,000 naira each as fine to fix various properties destroyed by the students during the recent riot in the school.
He said various degrees of destruction were made by the students from the entrance of the school gate to the Senate building by some mercenaries believed to be bad eggs among the students, as such they must take responsibility for their actions. Prof. Best made this known recently when he received the founder of an American organization, “African Arise International” Mr. Mike Arnold on an assessment of the condition of the University for intervention following reports of attacks on the University as circulated on various social media platforms.The Acting Vice Chancellor noted that the incident that happened outside the University was imported into the University environment by students of the Institution who smashed and destroyed properties as a means to ventilate their anger on the inability of the military to protect them from attacks by suspected herders.In his words, “We have had meetings with the students’ leaders and have told them that they have to take responsibility for their own actions. This problem did not begin inside the University campus, it started outside.”Suspected herders came and killed people in the surrounding community and they killed three people on that fateful night. One of them was reading his books preparing for examination and was gunned down by these marauders and merchants of death.”So the following morning, students who had access to the dead body of their colleague took to the University and began to protest. That event of evacuating the corpse into the University that exported the problem into the University and sadly it went violent.”The students break some properties at the entrance of the school and even this Senate building was under attack, you can see various destruction made here.” He explainedMeanwhile the Registrar of the University Mr. Yakubu F. Ayuba in a statement dated 27th April, 2024 has announced the resumption of academic activities after the closure of the school for 10 days to enable the University management review security situation following the attacks on students community that snowball into the University on 19th April, 2024.Ayuba noted that resumption is in batches beginning with 200 and 300 level students who are to resume on May 2nd, 2024 while their examination is to continue on Monday 6th May, 2024.Also, 100 and 400 level students are to resume on 20th May, 2024 in preparation for their examination from 22nd May, 2024 as the review Examination Time Table is said to have been made available to Departments, faculties and University website.He further stated this; “All students are to take note and comply with the following conditions for resumption. All students are to pay a fine of seven thousand naira (7,000) as cost of properties damaged during the riot of 19th April, 2024. The procedure for the payment is available on the University website and notice boards.”Only students who have paid their school fees are to resume and continue with their examinations. Each student is to bring a letter, undertaking subsequent good behavior; witnessed by a traditional ruler not below the status of a district head.”Students who are not of Plateau origin are permitted to bring the stated letter from a recognized community leader. A copy of the letter is available on the University’s website for download and subsequent processing by each student.” The statement further readsThe University Management has assured that adequate security measures have been put in place to guarantee the safety of students both on campus and off campus. Adding that all conditions stated in the resumption notice must be strictly adhered to before access is granted to the University and examination Hall by any student.The founder and International President, Africa Arise International; Mayor Mike Arnold during his visit and tour of facilities and various spots expressed the commitment of the organization in supporting the Institution based on areas of needs.Some of the major issues highlighted to them were the need to support the school library with additional materials such as books and other learning and teaching materials, shortage of hostels as well as the new faculty of agriculture which is in session already at the University.
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, Thursday and Jan.1, 2025 as public holidays.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Ministry of Interior’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Magdalene Ajani, on Monday in Abuja.
According to Ajani, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said that the public holidays were to enable citizens to celebrate Christmas, Boxing Day and the New Year respectively.
“The Christmas season is a good moment for both spiritual reflection and national renewal.
“As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us demonstrate kindness and extend goodwill to one another, irrespective of our differences,” the Minister.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised the importance of the season as a time to foster harmony and to strengthen bonds across families and communities.
He assured citizens of the federal government’s continued commitment to ensuring peace, security, and prosperity across the nation.
He further expressed confidence in the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu’s administration for a better and prosperous economy in 2025.
The Minister, on behalf of the federal government sent warm greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to use the festive period to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season signifies.(NAN)
Some suspected hoodlums on Saturday attacked the palace of Etsu Lokoja, Chief Emmanuel Dauda-Shelika, Nyamkpa IV, burning properties within the premises, including a vehicle.
The palace, located on plot 306, New Layout, Lokoja, was allegedly attacked by hoodlums at about 1:00 am on Saturday.
The Nupe Natives of Lokoja Development Union were planning to host the 2nd edition of the Nupe Natives end-of-the-year event, tagged “Lokoja ’24 Nupe Cultural Fiesta,” on Dec.
21, 2024, before the incident occurred.The event was, however, aborted due to the unfortunate attack.
Dauda-Shelika said this on Monday in Lokoja that he heard a big bang on my door at around 1 am.
“I woke up to check through the window, wondering what could have happened.
“Then, I suddenly saw wildfire coming out of my car that was set ablaze by attackers.
“I knew it was an attack on the palace, and therefore I could not come out because of fear of being attacked. So, I managed to come out through the back door and scaled the fence to escape for my life.
“Thereafter, I came out to the road and realised that all my neighbours in the community were on the ground trying hard to quench the fire, but unfortunately the car was burnt as well as other properties inside it.”
The traditional ruler appealed to the government and security agencies to investigate the cause of the attack and bring perpetrators and their sponsors to justice.
He admonished Nupe natives in Lokoja to avoid any reprisal attack but continue to remain peaceful and law abiding and allow the government and security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation of the attack.
“We are appealing to Gov. Ahmed Ododo and security agencies to please use their good offices to investigate this unfortunate incident and bring to justice whoever is concerned, whether directly or indirectly.
“We also want the government to kindly visit our issues by recognising and grading the stool of Etsu Lokoja, which had been in existence before colonisation,” he said.
He stated that the Lokoja Local Government Area chairman and his security team came for an on-the-spot assessment that Saturday morning, as well as the police and other security outfits.
The National President, Nupe Natives Union Lokoja, Alh. Abubakar Ndashite, said the event scheduled for Saturday was a celebration of Nupe cultural heritage and not any form of coronation as being insinuated from some quarters.
Ndashite, who doubles as the chairman of the planning committee, said the aborted event was to project the Nupe spirit and culture as well as the rich history of the diversely composed Lokoja community and the peaceful and harmonious coexistence among her.
He expressed his displeasure over the aborted cultural event, noting that the union had expended so much on it, and urged the government to bring perpetrators to book. (NAN)
The Abia Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of eight persons with two others injured in a road traffic crash that occurred along the Bende-Ohafia Road.
A statement by the Sector Commander, Mrs Ngozi Ezeoma, on Monday in Umuahia said that the crash occurred on Sunday along the Mmuri River axis of the road in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state.
She said the crash involved a Trailer carrying chippings which hit and fell on a Sharon Volkswagen vehicle with 10 persons on board.
“At the time of the crash eight persons had died including a woman standing by the roadside and three were injured.
“The injured victims were taken to the hospital while the dead ones were deposited at the morgue,” she said.
Ezeoma said that preliminary investigation revealed that the crash was caused by dangerous driving and excessive speeding. (NAN)
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