…Assures of Security, Promises to Look into Students’ demands

…State Government Invites Students for Dialogue

By Amaechi Agbo

The management of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), has banned students’ gathering on campus and directed security agents to arrest “hoodlums” who violate the directive.

The order followed protest on Tuesday by the students led by the Student Union leaders in which they stopped on-going examinations, lectures and defence in faculties. The students embarked on the protest after the management announced upward adjustment of school fees for the 2025/2026 academic session. The decision didn’t go down well with the students.

The management issued the ban through a memo signed by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Aloysius Michaels Okolie on Tuesday and made available to ESUT Monitor.

The management suspended any form of meetings and/or gathering on campus until further notice. Law abiding students are hereby directed to report any breach of peace, harassment or intimidation to the security for immediate action.

In the circular titled: “Criminal Invasion and Breach of Public Peace in ESUT”, the VC described the students’ leaders as “faceless miscreants and cultists threatening to intimidate and destabilize the peace of the University.

He noted that the students were recruited from neighbouring tertiary institutions and motor parks, masking under the SUG Leadership, issuing unguarded and scandalous memos abusing, scandalizing, disparaging and spreading falsehood against the persons of the Visitor and the Executive Governor of Enugu State, the Council and ESUT Management.

The Vice Chancellor described the SUG leadership as impostors stating that the tenure of the current leadership of the body expired in February. While debunking allegations of embezzlement by the SUG, the VC further noted that the management will commence negotiation with the new SUG Executive set to be elected in June.

“The attention of the University Management has been drawn to the activities of few former Student Union Leaders led by the immediate past President Mr Ezenwaji who recruited faceless miscreants and cultists to threaten, intimidate and destabilize the peace of the University.

“These elements recruited from neighbouring tertiary institutions and motor parks, masking under the SUG Leadership, have been issuing unguarded and scandalous memos abusing, scandalizing, disparaging and spreading falsehood against the persons of the Visitor and the Executive Governor of Enugu State, the Council and ESUT Management.

“Precisely on Tuesday, 13th May, 2025 these elements invaded the Faculties and forcefully halted the academic activities on Campus. They went further to reject all resolutions made at a meeting with the Management for peaceful resolution of the purported issues raised.

“For avoidance of doubt, Management wishes to state as follows:

1. Mr Ezenwaji’s SUG ended their tenure in February 2025 and hence are no longer in a position to speak for ESUT Students.

2. All the allegations and slander directed at the Visitor, Council and Management are not entirely true. No doubt they are playing the scripts of their desperate sponsors within and outside the University.

Given the foregoing Management can no longer tolerate this brazen show of violence and manifest threats to the lives of staff and students of the University. Arising from the foregoing, Management hereby invites the law enforcement agencies to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book. Other strategic decisions taken include:

a. The time table for elections of officers of the Union is hereby released for immediate implementation.

b. Management shall continue further negotiations on the outlined genuine issues with the newly elected executives of the SUG.

c. Again, Management shall process the contending issues to the Council for review and further necessary action

d. Management assures the staff and students of adequate security protection as they go about their legitimate duties.

e. Any form of bullying by any student shall henceforth be considered an act of terrorism and criminality; and shall be treated as such.

f. In the meantime, Management has suspended any form of meetings and/or gathering on Campus until further notice. Law abiding students are hereby directed to report any breach of peace, harassment or intimidation to the security for immediate action.

g. The University Community should be rest assured that the Government of Enugu State has zero tolerance for hoodlums, criminal elements and terrorists within and around the State.

h. Management therefore seizes this medium to apologize to the Visitor and Council for the damaging remarks, unguarded propaganda and insults extended by these elements that masquerade under the guise of Students Leaders,” the memo read.

Meanwhile, the student union leaders are about now meeting with the Enugu State Government at the Government House.

ESUT Monitor gathered that the ESUT Students’ leaders and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Enugu State Chapter were summoned by the State Government for a meeting today, May 14, 2025.