Nigerian institution suspends its medical students for protesting outside the government house

According to reports, Benue State University (BSU) Markudi administration has suspended all 200–600 level medical students for holding a demonstration in front of the State Government House.

Remember how the medical students, last week, staged a demonstration and took over the government house to voice their concerns about the hostel’s overpopulation, water shortages, and the arbitrary withdrawal of their classmates?

According to a memo that has been making the rounds on social media and is endorsed by Dr. Mrs. Mfaga Modom, the school’s registrar, the suspension was the result of the management committee reviewing the pupils’ behaviour.

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All 200–600 level medical students enrolled in the school’s College of Health Sciences were instructed in the memo to go on a one-month suspension starting at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, October 30, 2023, and to resume on Wednesday, November 29, 2023.

It further stated that there will be no interruptions to the academic pursuits of the college’s 100 level students.

The message stipulated that each student was to present a sworn affidavit from a qualified court of law attesting to good behaviour upon resuming.

This is what the memo says: “The Management Committee met with the Academic Staff of the College of Health Sciences to discuss the students’ demonstration on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. The Committee also carefully reviewed the reports from the Dean of Students, the Coordinator of Security, and the recent actions of 200 to 600 level Medical Students.

The management committee decided to take the following action after being appalled by the medical students’ obstinate behaviour before to, during, and following the demonstration:

An Investigative Committee will be constituted by the Management Committee to look into the immediate and remote reasons of the demonstration and offer advice as needed.

“It is now the responsibility of the College of Health Sciences’ Top Management Committee to carry out the resolutions found in the committee reports on the students’ demonstration.

“All College of Health Sciences 200-600 Level Medical Students shall begin a one-month suspension at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, October 30, 2023, and shall resume on Wednesday, November 29, 2023.

Upon restart, every student must provide a sworn affidavit attesting to good behaviour from a competent court of law. Every kid must accompany their parent or guardian, who will sign an undertaking.

“Effective immediately, the Benue State University Medical Students Association (BESUMSA) has been suspended until further notice. On Monday, October 30, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., 200–600 Level Medical Students are instructed to leave their dorms.

“All Staff, University Community, and the General Public are hereby notified of the suspension.” “Academic activities of the College of Health Sciences 100 Level Students remain uninterrupted.”