Students, unions threatens to shut down UNIMAID over incessant terrorists’ attacks
Following incessant attacks by suicide bombers which has claimed several lives and properties, the Joint Unions of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU; Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU; Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU; National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, and students of University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID, yesterday in Bornu State, threatened industrial unrest.
They called on the Federal Government to immediately take appropriate security measures to safeguard the university community.
At a press conference held yesterday, Chairman of ASUU, UNIMAID, Dr. Dani Mamman, said: “The recent happenings on our campus since January 16, when two suicide bombers attacked the university, which resulted in the death of Professor Aliyu Mani of Veterinary Medicine Department, among other relatives of staff, as well as the latest attacks last Sunday, which claimed the lives of a security personnel, with destruction of property, is worrisome.
“We have been pushed to the wall. It is unfortunate that our outcry to the Federal Government through the Minister of Education to provide enough security and perimeter fencing of the university with security gadgets fell on deaf ears.
“In fact, it is disheartening that neither the Federal Government nor even the Minister of Education deemed it fit to visit the university or send delegations to commiserate with us.
“For avoidance of doubt, if no immediate action is taken to protect our members, we shall be compelled to call our congresses to consider taking drastic action, which will not augur well to our students and their parents. This is because we cannot guarantee the re-opening of the university for the 2017/2018 academic session in October.”
They, however, commended Governor Kashim Shettima for donating N50 million for digging of trenches along the porous borders of the institution.
At the briefing were Chairman of SSANU, Alhaji Isa Abdulkadir; Chairman, NAAT, Yusuf Dalhatu; Chairman, NASU, Alkali Babagana, and President of SUG, Babati Abu-Hanifa, among others.
