The whereabout of some students of the Abia State University, arrested for protesting the withdrawal of the Bachelor’s degree certificate of a former Governor of the state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, is still unknown.
The students were arrested by a combined team of soldiers and riot policemen who dispersed the peaceful protest of the students on Friday.
Efforts by some of the parents and guardians of the arrested students to locate them as at press time on Sunday were not successful as the Nigerian Army Brigade in Abia State and Mopol 28 Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, which jointly carried out the arrest, said they do not have the students.
The students had shown their objection to the sitting of the Senate of ABSU on Friday with the intention of withdrawing the certificate.
They said they were worried that such a decision could be contemplated after the degree was awarded.
Their major concern is that with the politicization of the award of the institution’s degree, the certificate of the school may no longer be taken serious by employers.
They also argued that if it was the turn of Kalu today, it could also be the turn of any other person in the future.
The students bore placards with different inscriptions to show their displeasure at the development.
Some of the placards read: “NO TO REVOCATION OF OUK’S DEGREE.”
“OUK IS ONE OF US.”
“THIS INHUMAN TREATMENT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE TOMORROW.”
“IT IS OUK TODAY, IT CAN BE ANYBODY TOMORROW.”
“GOVERNMENT SHOULD SAVE OUR FUTURE.”
“DEGREE FROM THIS UNIVERSITY MAY NOT BE CREDIBLE AFTER THIS.”
“POLITICS SHOULD NOT BE MIXED WITH EDUCATION.”
Whereabouts of students arrested for protesting withdrawal of Kalu’s certificate still unknown
