Boko Haram Threat: UNIMAID Students Flee Campus

Boko Haram Threat: UNIMAID Students Flee Campus:

Heightened tension in the University of Maiduguri over rumours of impending attack on the institution by Boko Haram terrorists over the weekend forced hundreds of students to flee the campus to safe zones in the town.

The second generation varsity has been battling to manage similar rumours in the past months, as students continually panic, keeping vigils over rumours of possible attacks. The fear of such attacks, however, heightened on Friday when three different missiles launched by Boko Haram terrorists during the attack on military barracks found their way into the campus. One student was killed by one of the bombs, while three others got injured.

Since the incident of Friday, there seemed to be no peace in the campus as students are apprehensive that the Boko Haram gunmen could make real their threats.

LEADERSHIP has it on good authority that most of the students, especially the female ones, could not sleep in their various hostels as some made it to the town while others trooped into the staff quarters area of the campus.

Miss Aliyu, a part two student of Computer Science, said, “We could not sleep all the nights of Friday and Saturday after the bombs had killed a student and injured three more students.”

On Saturday, there was that rumour again that Boko Haram would be attacking the school, either that night or today (Sunday)”.

“Most of us were terrified and we heard that many girls who chose to run to the staff quarters at night were even waylaid and raped by unknown persons; that made us to keep vigil until morning that we had to pack our things and moved out of the campus before we get caught in the attack”, said Miss Aliyu.

The director of information of the university, Ahmed Tanko Muhammed, who spoke to journalists on behalf of the vice chancellor, Prof Mala Daura, said the rumour of possible attack on the campus by Boko Haram was unfounded and misplaced.  “There is no cause for alarm. The university authorities are working in collaboration with security agencies to ensure security for the entire university community. We have quite a good number of security personnel around the university and as such, parents and guardians should know their children are safe.

“We have no intention to close the university as academic activities continue unhindered. We urge the students to continue their lecture without fear because the security situation in Maiduguri is now calm and normalcy is returning,” he said.

When LEADERSHIP visited the campus, a number of students were seen leaving the university campus dragging their baggage, or boarding Keke NAPEP. Soldiers were seen guarding the Gate-1 and Gate-2 entrances of the university, as members of the Civilian-JTF were also seen screening vehicles heading towards the university. (Leadership)