The management of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, has initiated plans to sanction students who protested against the recent fee increase.

In a query issued by the university’s Dean of Student Affairs, I.A. Abiona, dated May 24 and circulated on X on Tuesday, the university deemed the protest over the fee hike in the presence of the vice-chancellor as gross misconduct.

“The Student Affairs Division has received a report from the office of the Vice Chancellor alleging that on Monday, May 13, 2024, you and three other students, including an unknown person (Adeyeye Oluwafemi), disrupted the swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected executives of the Student Union,” the query read.

The document further stated, “At this event, Olamide Gbadegesin Iyanuoluwa, Nice Linus, Adeyeye Oluwafemi (an unknown person), and yourself carried placards with scandalous inscriptions against the school fees increment.”

The school accused the students of gross misconduct and threatened suspension if they failed to respond to the query within 48 hours. “Your actions constitute an act of gross misconduct, particularly unruly behavior in the presence of the vice-chancellor and other members of the university management,” the university stated.

An activist described as the “unknown person” in the query, Mr. Adeyeye, criticized the university for suppressing protesters instead of addressing their concerns. “This nonsense is expected because our university system is run by autocrats,” Mr. Adeyeye told Peoples Gazette on Tuesday. “It was just a peaceful protest in a hall, very quiet until they brought security officers, bundled us out, beat us, brought in heavily armed soldiers, and drove us to Agodi where they held us for four hours. Instead of addressing the issues protesters raised, they went for the messenger. But we will resist it.”