Authorities of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State have announced an indefinite shutdown of the institution over protest by its students.

Some students of the institution protested against a hike in tuition fees on Tuesday, Feb. 6. The students also alleged that authorities of the institution chased them out of examination halls for failing to pay the hiked fees. A video shared online shows students being chased out of an examination hall.

However, some miscreants were said to have hijacked the protest, destroying some of the school’s properties, including carrying out an attack on the VC’s official vehicle and other officials.

Following the protest, the Vice Chancellor of the school, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe, announced that academic activities of the institution had been suspended indefinitely.

The statement read in part, “This is to notify the public that the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State woke up to experience the violation of the long-existing peace of the university this morning.

“To safeguard life and properties on campus, the university management has on behalf of the Senate ordered an indefinite shutdown of the university indefinitely.”

The school management advised all the students to vacate the university premises immediately or no later than 5.00 pm on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.