By PERHAPS armed with the memories of the 2020 EndSars Protests that shook the foundation of the country, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Professor Ezekiel Agbalagba, has issued a strongly worded directive to halt a planned protest over alleged injustices and corruption within the institution.
FUPRE campus
The threat was communicated to the university community in a memo sent to all staff and students on Monday, 21 July which was obtained by Stonix News on Tuesday in Warri, Delta State.
Delineating the panic mode, the memo, referenced VC/STAF&STD/25/Vol 1, was copied to several key stakeholders, including the Delta State Governor, the Commissioner of Police, and the Director of the Department of State Security (DSS).
Others copied included the Chairman of Uvwie Local Government Area, the Warri Area Commander of the Nigeria Police Force, and the Commander of Operation Delta Sweep, a special squad of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Titled “Security Alert,” the memo intimated the university community that credible intelligence had been received indicating that certain individuals or groups are planning to obstruct access, cause disruptions, and potentially cause harm to life and property within the university premises.
“This is to notify the university community that Management has received credible security intelligence indicating that certain individuals or groups are planning to block access, cause disruptions, instigate a crisis, and inflict catastrophic damage to both lives and property within the University premises,” the Vice Chancellor stated.
Professor Agbalagba, who personally signed the memo, emphasised that the university management would not tolerate any action that will jeopardise the peaceful academic environment or undermine the ongoing efforts to maintain an uninterrupted academic calendar across Nigerian universities.
He reminded the community that FUPRE operates under established laws, statutes, and regulations, adding that any actions disturbing the peace of the university would be met with appropriate consequences.
“Be advised that the University Management will not tolerate any actions that jeopardise the peaceful academic environment or undermine the achievement of the Visitor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), in maintaining an uninterrupted academic calendar across Nigerian universities,” the memo read.
“Any staff member or student who participates, either now or in the future, in any act that disrupts the peace of our university community will face severe consequences.
“Management will not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law. Be warned!” he added.
In what now appears as a trend across the country in resent time as regards muzzling citizens who wish to ventilate their displeasure over certain misgivings through protests, some observers have suggested that engagement with the organisers of the planned protest could help ease tensions and safeguard the institution’s reputation rather than resorting to threats and intimidation by the management.
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