YOUTH PROTEST PARTLY STALLS ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES AT AEFUNAI, EBONYI

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

Academic and business activities were partially disrupted on Tuesday at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo (AEFUNAI) in Ebonyi State as youths from the community barricaded the gates of the campus in protest.

Students and lecturers, who were rushing to school in the morning hours, were forced to pack their vehicles on the roads till the arrival of security agents, who cleared the protesters and reopened the gates.

The youths were protesting against a ban on the operation of commercial tricycles and motorcycles within the campus.

Their spokesperson, Mr. Ejike Njoku, said it was worrisome that the university management took a decision to impose the ban when a joint tricycle and security committee set up by the management to monitor activities of the operators was still in place.

Mr. Njoku said operating commercial tricycles and motorcycles on the campus was the only source of livelihood for the youth who were not employed by the Management despite giving out their land for the establishment of the university.

The Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Ikechukwu Elom, said their operation was banned because it constituted a nuisance to the university environment to the extent that a lecturer was beaten up recently.

The Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, AE FUNAI Chapter, Dr. Louis Omenyi, and the President, Students Union Government of the University, Comrade Wilson Umahi, said their Unions support the ban to restore sanity on the campus.

Police Operatives and soldiers deployed to the scene were still active as at the time of filing this report.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU