UNN Crisis: Police Deploy 200 Men To UNEC

Security has been beefed up in the university of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC), possibly to avert the kind of violent demonstration embarked upon by the students at the Nsukka campus of the university on Saturday February 16, 2010, which led to the destruction of institution’s property worth millions of Naira.

Our correspondent who visited the campus Tuesday, reports that tension is seriously mounting in the school, as  no fewer than 200 Anti Riot Mobile   Policemen are on guard in and around the premises , especially at the main gate of the campus.

As a result of heavy presence of security operatives all over the place in the campus, members of the university community, including the students who were not sent home unlike their Nsukka campus counterparts were not very sure of  situation of things, as the entire premises was enveloped by an atmosphere of uncertainty. 

At the time of filing this report, it was not easy any longer for vehicles to move in and out of the tension soaked Enugu Campus of the UNN, as vehicles queued up from the main gate to the UNEC main Hall as a result of traffic hold –up caused by security men at the gate who were searching all vehicles going in and out of the campus.

In the same vein, more than 20 Police vehicles are now stationed at the main gate of the campus battle ready for any eventuality, as the security operatives might not like to be taken unawares by any person or group of persons for whatever reasons.

Speaking to newsmen later on the state of affairs in  the university generally, the president , Students’ Union Government (SUG),  UNEC, Mr. Ozumba Chijioke Clement, appealed to the authorities of the university to recall the students of the Nsukka campus of the School, sent packing in the wake of the  February 16 , violent demonstration in the Nsukka campus of the institution.

His words: “We are not happy that our brothers at Nsukka are at home and we are here at school. We are asking the university authorities to reopen the Nsukka Campus as quickly as possible for our brothers to conclude their courses.”

Also speaking, the president, Post Graduate Students, UNN, Mr. Eze Arinze, said that they did not take part in the recent students riot that led to the destruction of School property worth millions of naira in the Nsukka Campus of the university.

He, also called on the authorities of UNN to reopen the Nsukka Campus of the Institution to pave way for dialogue, adding that “There is procedure for everything.”