Students in Jega have reportedly set the provost’s house on fire and vandalized vehicles in protest against an alleged N23 million extortion, escalating tensions within the institution.

Students from the College of Health Sciences and Technology in Jega, Kebbi State, set Provost Haruna Saidu-Sauwa’s residence on fire and vandalized his vehicles during a violent protest.

The unrest erupted following allegations that the college administration extorted N23 million from students concerning index registration fees for 250 graduating individuals.

According to an insider from the institution, the conflict stemmed from a recently launched public health initiative that was originally coordinated with the Reproductive Health and Public Health Association of Nigeria.

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Subsequently, the program was combined with the Environmental Health Department to fulfill certification requirements. This led the college to request an additional N65,000 from each student for index registration on top of the previously paid N30,000.

Upset by what they saw as extortion, the students turned to violence, pelting vehicles with stones and setting fire to the provost’s residence. College staff evacuated the premises before security personnel intervened.

Nafiu Abubakar, the spokesperson for the Kebbi Police Command, confirmed the incident and mentioned that further information would be released once a detailed report is submitted by the Divisional Police Officer in Jega.

The incident has raised concerns about the institution’s dedication to ethical practices, leading to questions regarding its capability to fulfill its mission of training competent healthcare professionals.