The Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, has expelled 12 students over cultism-related cases, armed robbery and other offences, while five others were rusticated and five issued warning letters.
It could be recalled that on August 13 this year, FUD sought the support of the Jigawa State Police Command to tackle emerging cult-related activities and other anti-social behaviours among some of its students.
The appeal was made during a courtesy visit by the Vice-Chancellor, Senate, management and staff of the university to the newly posted Commissioner of Police, CP Tijjani Murtala, at the command headquarters in Dutse.
In a statement signed and made available to PUNCH correspondent on Saturday in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, by the Acting Director of Public Affairs of the Federal University Dutse, Abdullahi Yahya, the university said the sanctions imposed on the affected students took immediate effect.
According to Abdullahi Yahya, “The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University Dutse, Professor Ahmad Mohammad Gumel, reviewed the report from the 20th meeting of the Students’ Disciplinary Committee and approved the sanctions.”
He said the 12 expelled students were found guilty of involvement in criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, cult-related activities and drug abuse on campus.
Yahya listed the expelled students as Emmanuel Nebani Anenechukwu, Ayomide Kayode Peter, Idris Ismail, Miracle Kayode Pelumi, Yazi Yusuf Saleh and Ahmed Bashir.
He said others were Mubarak Kana Usman, Divine Inuwa, Ismail Lawan Muhammad, Aisha Mahmood Yakubu, Fatima Auwal Muhammad and one other student listed for a related offence.
“These students were expelled for offences including criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, phone theft, robbery and cult-related activities and drug abuse on campus,” Yahya said in the statement.
The Acting Director explained that the university also rusticated five students for offences bordering on attempted sexual assault and cyberbullying.
Yahya highlighted that four of the affected students were rusticated for two semesters, while one was rusticated for one semester.
“The rustication was due to their involvement in cyberbullying and sexual assault-related offences,” he said.
Furthermore, the FUD spokesperson said five students were issued warning letters for cyberbullying, attempted sexual assault and drug abuse off-campus.
He identified those warned as Abubakar Mukhtar, Rabia Batagarawa Ibrahim, Oladimeji Olubenga Samson, Saratu Samaila and Mubarak Ajagunna Adeshina.
“Abubakar Mukhtar was warned for drug abuse off-campus, Rabia Batagarawa Ibrahim for attempted sexual assault, while Oladimeji, Saratu and Mubarak were warned for cyberbullying,” Yahya said.
He disclosed that the university management would not condone any act of indiscipline that tarnishes the image of the institution.
Yahya warned that “the university has zero tolerance for criminality, cultism, drug abuse and harassment of any form.”
He said the Vice-Chancellor had directed that the sanctions take immediate effect and urged students to remain law-abiding.
“FUD remains committed to providing a safe and conducive environment for learning and character development,” the statement contained.
Accordingly, the Acting Director urged parents and guardians to counsel their wards to shun vices capable of truncating their academic careers.
