The management of Ebonyi State University has expelled three students caught with firearms during the recently concluded Students’ Union Government election held on the institution’s main campus in Abakaliki.
Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Michael Awoke, announced the expulsion during the inauguration of the newly elected SUG executives over the weekend.
The move follows the September arrest of three students by the Ebonyi State Police Command after they allegedly fired gunshots to disrupt the election results’ announcement, injuring one student in the process.
Describing the incident as “criminal and intolerable,” Professor Awoke said the university would not condone any act of violence or intimidation on its campus.
He stated, “The issue of cultism is completely banned in Ebonyi State University as long as I remain the Vice Chancellor. The era of coming into the university environment with guns to intimidate lecturers and fellow students must stop immediately.”
The vice chancellor added that the students involved had been formally expelled, noting that their case was already in court.
“These three students, already found wanting, are hereby expelled from Ebonyi State University. We are following up the case in court, and justice will take its full course,” he declared.
According to the university authorities, the expelled students were found in possession of guns and live ammunition, which they allegedly used to disperse students and attempt to attack the Dean of Student Affairs during the election.
Professor Awoke stressed that the disciplinary action was aimed at restoring discipline and deterring others from engaging in similar misconduct.
“Being a student and possessing a firearm to intimidate others or your lecturers because of an election is totally unacceptable. This expulsion will serve as a deterrent to others,” he warned.
Reaffirming the university’s zero-tolerance policy for cultism, examination malpractice, and violence, the vice chancellor reiterated his administration’s commitment to maintaining peace and order on campus.
“By the powers vested in me as the Vice Chancellor of Ebonyi State University, these students are hereby rusticated. They are no longer students of this institution,” Awoke declared firmly.
He added, “EBSU must remain a place of discipline, academic excellence, and peace. Any form of misconduct that threatens these values will be met with severe consequences.”
