The Community of Tiv Students (CTS) and Tiv Staff Forum (TSF) at the Federal University Wukari have petitioned the vice chancellor of the institution, Abubakar Kundiri, and the National Universities Commission (NUC), over planned reopening of the university.
In a petition obtained by BusinesDay dated August 6, 2019, and signed by Patrick Tion for TSF and Shihon David for the CTS, the groups said the reopening of the University slated for August 14 would affect the Tiv students and staff because of a threat to their lives in Wukari.
The groups noted that the issue that led to the closure of the University, which was later revised to a mid-semester break to serve some vested interests, was not addressed and opening the University now would further escalate the situation.
The groups, while condemning the killing of three Tiv persons in the University, called for a thorough investigation into the murder cases and the perpetrators to be brought to book.
“The true position devoid of sentiments is that there exist a serious security breach at Federal University Wukari, following the crisis between the Jukun and Tiv in Wukari, where the University is situated.
“The killing of Emmanuel Msughter Vihiior with Matric No. PAS/MCB/18/025, a 100 level student of Micro Biology, and Fater Ayatse Felix Matric No. HMA/SOC/18/112 Department of Sociology, 100 level, as well as Mark Tsav, a staff of Student Affairs Department with ID N0. JP00104, on 30th July, put paid to the security of Tiv staff and students in the University.
“We are surprised that the University has remained silent on the killing of the students and staff and has gone ahead to fix August 14 for the reopening of the school.
“This move will affect over 1,500 Tiv students who were evacuated by the Benue State government and other Tiv students from Taraba as well as staff whose security is not guaranteed in Wukari at the moment.”
The groups called on the university management to stay action on the planned resumption of academic activities at the University, pending when adequate security measures are put in place to guarantee the safety of the lives and property of Tiv students and staff in Wukari.
This is even as the groups appealed to the university management to take up the responsibility of giving the 3 slain Tiv members of the university a befitting burial, and identify with the bereaved families.
Responding to the petition the Chairman Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) University of Wukari Chapter, Kitzu T. Oweh, assured the staff and students of adequate security on the campus and its environs, explaining that they had no reason to fear.
The ASUU chairman told BusinessDay over the phone that he was sure the university management would look at the petition and address it appropriately.
Oweh said the issue that led to the closure of the University was not worth it in the first place and wondered why the Benue State government evacuated its students while the university management was trying to bring the situation under control.
