The clash of two dominant religious groups on the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, was due to the claim by Muslim students that a fellow student made a blasphemous remark on Prophet Muhammad but was not sanctioned by the authorities.
It was reported that a student had, on his Facebook wall, warned the school authority to take punitive measure against the student who allegedly blasphemed against Islam, or the Muslim students would lead a mass action to disrupt academic activities on the campus. However, some students said the riot was not caused by the alleged claim of blasphemy, but as a result of the Student Union Government (SUG) election, where one Haliru Amos, Christian, emerged the union president against the wish and expectation of the seeming majority Muslim students. The students have vacated the campus following the unrest.
“Two years ago, Muslim candidates won the election. Last year again, a Muslim candidate won it. So, this time around, the Christian students decided to come out en masse and vote because the Christian bodies and fellowships on campus had vigorously asked Christians to come out and vote. This is the cause of the protest.”
The Muslim Students wanted one Hamza to be the SUG president, and they promised to give him all the necessary support. The Christian Students also brought in Haliru Amos and gave him all the backing. Unfortunately the Muslim candidates could not reach consensus which made Haliru to have a smooth ride to the SUG Presidency.
“This is what angered them and informed the unrest. I believe some of the lecturers are supporting them. The student who issued out a threat earlier was not questioned or called to order by the school authority. So they always feel they can do anything and get away with,” a christian student said.”
“They abused the Prophet, I don’t know what actually led to this but this happened more than two weeks ago and the school authorities were still investigating it. But yesterday they abused the prophet again and that is what led to the crisis,” a Muslim student said.
In the ensuing riot between Muslim and Christian students, one student was killed and many others injured.
A source on the campus said two university security men were also injured by the rioting students and lecture halls, musical instruments of Christian students and two mosques were vandalised and religious books destroyed by the protesting students.
A senior academic staff who preferred anonymity said the students who were supposed to have begun their examinations were all asked to leave the university premises.
“The situation would have gone out of hand but for the timely intervention of security personnel from the Nigerian Army,” the don said, and lamented that such a barbaric behaviour could be found in a university community.
