Moddibo Adama University of Technology, MAUTECH, Yola, was shut down following Sunday night’s riot over alleged blasphemous statement against Prophet Muhammad posted by a student on a WhatsApp group.
The blasphemous statement was allegedly posted on the engineering students’ group WhatsApp by a student, a development that angered some Muslims students to stage a protest that turned violent.
More so, there had been growing tension in the institution following a recent students’ union election that polarised the students along religious lines.
However, a student who pleaded anonymity told DAILY NIGERIAN on Monday that he was at the school preparing for his exam when the crisis started.
“It was around 7:10 pm, Sunday night, when I heard commotion in the female hostel.
“Disturbed by the increasing intensity of the noise emanating from Oba Hostel (female hostel), I decided to look through the window to have a first-hand look at the happening outside the lecture room. Run, run, run, was what I heard them yelling.
“I left the department immediately. On reaching out, to my greatest dismay, panic is all over the school. From Nana Asma’u hostel to Usman Nagoggo hostel, From Kabiru Umar hostel to Chukwu hostel, people kept trooping out, heading to the main gate.
“So I summoned courage to enter the main campus to have first-hand knowledge of what was really transpiring.
“Approaching the school mini market, I heard students chanting ‘Allahu-Akbar,” he added.
According to him, about two weeks ago, a 200L student of Chemical Engineering wrote a blasphemous and damaging piece on Prophet Muhammad and started spreading it on Whatsapp, first to his Departmental Whatsapp group then spreading it all over to other groups.
“Shocked by this blasphemy, MSSN and other concerned Muslims decided to report the incident to the Dean, Students Affairs, then to the school Administration.
“Weeks after the incident, no tangible action was taken.
“However, after a Magrib prayer, a student stood up and brought to the notice of MSSN and fellow students of yet another blasphemous piece written by the same student, and you know, the moment concerned institution fail to meet up to their responsibilities, the masses take up the advantage of such weak point.
“There and then, students began to beat anyone at sight.
“Thirty minutes later or so, news had it that the clinic mosque was vandalized by suspected Christian students. That’s how it started – from a rumour to a violent conflict,” he said.
In her reaction, spokesperson for the school, Halima Bala, did not give details about the crisis.
She however said students have been packing out of the school, just as security has been beefed up.
Mrs Bala said the first semester examination scheduled to commence today (Monday) has been suspended.
“As I talk to you now the university management meeting is ongoing. After the management meeting, there will be Senate meeting for the next line of action to be taken by the university,” Mrs Bala said.
