Students Stage Protest Over Safety Issues at University

Students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, protested on Tuesday. They raised concerns about insecurity in their off-campus areas and asked the university and security agencies to act quickly.

The students blocked the Minna, Bida Road for a short time before allowing traffic to flow again.

They locked the main gate of the university. They demanded that the vice-chancellor and other leaders take real steps to stop the frequent attacks on students.

The students shared that they had met with the vice-chancellor before. They talked about ongoing armed robberies targeting students living off-campus.

The protesters said the vice-chancellor told them that the university could not be held responsible for incidents outside its premises.

PREMIUM TIMES could not verify this statement independently.

The students claimed that for about three weeks, armed robbers had been attacking students in nearby neighborhoods. They said these robbers arrived in Hilux vehicles and carried guns.

According to the students, many victims lost laptops, mobile phones, and other valuables worth millions of naira during these attacks.

One protester said, "We are no longer satisfied with promises. What we need are practical measures that will guarantee our safety."

The students called on the university to work with security agencies to increase patrols and ensure the safety of those living in the areas around the school.

Efforts by PREMIUM TIMES to get a response from the university management were not successful at the time of this report.

The vice-chancellor was reported to be in a meeting with officials of the Students’ Union Government.

This protest is happening as worries about insecurity grow in Niger State. Residents continue to report armed robberies, kidnappings, and banditry.

Students in other schools in the state have also voiced concerns about attacks in off-campus areas. Many are pushing for better cooperation between school authorities, local communities, and security agencies to protect lives and property.

While universities are responsible for security on their campuses, off-campus safety mainly falls to security agencies. Schools often team up with law enforcement to improve safety for their students.