The Kebbi State Government has indefinitely closed the College of Health Sciences, Jega, following a violent protest by students on Thursday. The protest was sparked by allegations of extortion involving the management and provost, Haruna Saidu-Sauwa, demanding N23 million from students for index registration.
The Commissioner for Higher Education, Isah Abubakar Tunga, explained that the closure was necessary to prevent the situation from escalating further. "The closure of the college became imperative in view of the fact that if the demonstration was allowed to continue, it might escalate to an uncontrollable level," Tunga stated.
The protest, which started peacefully, quickly turned violent as students targeted the provost, burning his house and vandalizing his car. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the area intervened and escorted the provost to the police station for his safety.
In response, the government has constituted a nine-member panel of inquiry to investigate the incident. The panel, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Higher Education, Hussaini Abdullahi Suru, has been tasked with identifying the causes of the protest, those responsible, and evaluating the extent of the damage to college property. The panel has two weeks to submit its findings and recommendations.
Sources within the college revealed that the unrest stemmed from frustrations over an additional N65,000 fee imposed on students after the Public Health programme was merged with the Environmental Health department. This demand, added to the existing N30,000 fees, led students to accuse the college management of extortion. In response, students reportedly resorted to stoning vehicles and setting fire to the provost’s residence.
Provost Haruna Saidu-Sauwa, however, denied the allegations, calling them “fictitious, baseless, and mischievous.” He defended the institution’s operations, explaining that all payments were made through a Treasury Single Account, which no individual, including himself, could access. He also criticized the media for allegedly spreading unverified stories to serve certain interests.
"We are thankful no one was harmed, and we are working with security personnel to identify the organizers of the protest, which damaged my personal vehicle and other college property," Saidu-Sauwa stated, urging calm while the investigation continues.
The Kebbi State Government has assured the public that justice will be served and that measures will be taken to restore peace and address any underlying issues at the college.
