In response to the unrest that marred its campus, the University of Benin, located in Edo State, has taken the decision to indefinitely suspend its Students’ Union Government (SUG).
According to the university’s Registrar, Ademola Bobola, the suspension of the SUG is directly linked to the chaos that erupted on April 12 during an event attended by Olumide Akpata, the gubernatorial candidate of the Edo State Labour Party and an alumnus of the institution.
Akpata was reportedly participating in an interactive session organized by the University of Benin Staff Club on the Ugbowo campus when the gathering was disrupted by hoodlums. The altercation resulted in injuries to a senior lecturer, Dr. Presley Osemwegie.
In the aftermath of the incident, both the students’ leadership and Akpata exchanged accusations, with the students alleging that Akpata’s security personnel attacked them, while the politician claimed the attackers were sponsored by his political adversaries.
Following a thorough investigation into the matter, the university management decided to suspend the SUG indefinitely, as announced by Bobola in a statement released on Monday night. He stated that the decision was made after careful consideration of the investigative panel’s report.
The suspension, effective immediately from Monday, April 29, 2024, requires all SUG officers to relinquish any union properties in their possession to the Dean of Students’ Affairs by 4 pm on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
In the interim, a Caretaker Committee comprising representatives from various faculties, schools, and institutes has been established to oversee students’ affairs during the period of suspension.
