Caleb University Shut Down Over Riot That Took Place On Wednesday

Authorities of the Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State on Thursday shut the institution following a violent students' protest.

Though no life was lost, the protesting students on Wednesday evening damaged properties worth millions of naira.

Our correspondent gathered that the students, who were protesting against what they called "strict rules", smashed the glasses of no fewer than four cars. They also damaged several properties belonging to the school.

Sources said an altercation between a Muslim student and an official of the university caused the unrest.

The official, it was learnt, stopped the Muslim student from praying in the school. The action reportedly provoked other students who frowned on the decision of the official.

Following this, the students mobilised and started shouting solidarity songs and making calls for freedom of worship.

The rally later degenerated as they attacked the university official and started destroying properties on campus.

It was also learnt that the intervention of the police prevented the rampaging students from causing more havoc.

But announcing the forced closure on Thursday, the school's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ayo Olukoju, admitted that the action of the students prompted the "temporal vacation".

Olukoju, who said the school would reopen on June 2, 2014, noted that the religious link to crisis was a "mere pretence."

The insistence of the authorities to enforce a standing rule in the school, the VC, who spoke to our correspondent on Thursday, said caused the demonstration.

He said, "We have rules and regulations in the school and all the students agreed to abide by them. These rules are in the student handout. Before now, we have been applying appropriate sanctions against students who default in any of these rules. We wanted to enforce one of such sanctions on Wednesday before this crisis escalated.

"Please, the crisis has nothing to do with religion. It has nothing to do with being a Christian or a Muslim. People, especially female students even went to their worship centres on campus on Wednesday to pray after the incident.

Again, I tell you this action was carried out by the male students alone."

Authorities of the Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, another private university, shut the institution last March following a violent students' protest.