Irate students at the College of Health Sciences and Technology in Jega, Kebbi State, have set the residence of Provost Haruna Saidu-Sauwa on fire and vandalized his vehicle.
The protest erupted over allegations that the college management extorted N23 million from students regarding index registration for 250 graduating students.
According to a source within the college, the controversy originated from a newly introduced public health programme, initially affiliated with Reproductive Health and the Public Health Association of Nigeria. The college merged the programme with the Environmental Health Department to secure certification, leading to a demand for an additional N65,000 from each student for index registration, on top of the N30,000 already paid.
Accusing the management of extortion, the students responded violently by stoning vehicles and setting the provost’s residence on fire. College staff fled the scene in fear before security personnel arrived.
Kebbi Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Abubakar, stated that further details will be provided once information from the Divisional Police Officer in Jega is available.
The college’s mission to produce skilled healthcare professionals is now under scrutiny as the ongoing crisis raises concerns about its commitment to ethical standards.