Borno locks up tertiary institutions over students’ crisis

Borno state government has shut down two major tertiary institutions in the state, for the next two weeks, following students’ crisis.

The affected schools are the Kashim Ibrahim College of Education, Maiduguri, and Umar Ibn Ibrahim El Kanemi College of Science and Technology, Bama.

A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Mohammed Abatcha, on Thursday in Maiduguri, said the decision was to avoid escalation of violence.

“As a result of reported cases of clashes between students of Kashim Ibrahim College of Education, Maiduguri, and Umar Ibn Ibrahim El-Elkanemi College of Education, Science and Technology, Bama, on 27 May 2021, over the issue of hostel accommodation, the Ministry of Higher Education in consultation with the management of the two colleges has decided to close the two tertiary institutions for two weeks.

“The decision became necessary to avoid further escalation of the clashes and to save lives and properties pending further investigation of the root cause of the matter,” explained Mr Abatcha.

Insurgency forced the state government to relocate the Umar Ibn Ibrahim El-Kanemi College of Education Science and Technology, Bama, to Maiduguri, to share structures with the Kashim Ibrahim College of Education.

(NAN)