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.