Students at the College of Health Sciences and Technology in Jega, Kebbi State, have set fire to the Provost’s house, Alhaji Haruna Saidu-Sauwa, after accusing him and the school of extortion.
During the protest, his house was burned, and his car was damaged.
The protest began after claims that the college’s management collected N23 million from students as fees for index registration, affecting 250 graduating students.
Reports suggest that the issue arose from a new Public Health programme, originally linked with the Reproductive Health and Public Health Association of Nigeria. To secure certification, the college merged this programme with the Department of Environmental Health, leading to an extra fee of N65,000 per student, on top of the N30,000 they had already paid.
Angry at what they saw as extortion, students reacted by throwing stones at vehicles and setting the provost’s house on fire.
Provost Saidu-Sauwa denied these accusations, calling them “false and misleading.”
He rejected the claim that he worked with an organisation in Oyo State to extort N23 million from students and dismissed the idea that a new course led to extra fees, saying it was all based on misinformation.
He said, “The reports came from an unknown source who gave a false version of events. I challenge anyone with proof of extortion or course duplication to come forward.
“I want to clearly state that neither I nor the school management are involved in any extortion or course duplication.
“Our school uses a Single Treasury Account, where all the school’s money is deposited, and no one, not even I, has access to it.”
Responding to the incident, SP Nafiu Abubakar, the Public Relations Officer of the Kebbi State Police Command, said more details would be provided after the Divisional Police Officer in Jega submits a full report.
For now, calm has returned to the college after security forces broke up the protest and restored order.