The management of Adamawa State University ( ADSU) has banned a students’ press club operating in the institution for three months for allegedly posing a threat “to the security of other students on campus”.
In a letter forwarded to the president of the press club, signed by the Acting Registrar, Ahmed Ghaji, which was made available to newsmen, Mr Ghaji said, “Management has received with dismay the report on the activities of the Press Club and the threat it poses to the security of other students on campus”
According to the statement, the press club was banned from operating on campus for three (3) months with effect from January 27.
It directed the press club to immediately stop every activity and ensure strict compliance by all members.
But in a reaction,the National Union of Campus Journalists (NUCJ) has condemned the banning of the press club.
In a statement posted on NUCJ official twitter page, the union described the ban as illegal.
“NUCJ totally condemns the illegal ban of Press Club in Adamawa State University, for three months. Findings reveal that the university management has no good-enough reasons to ban student journalists for exercising their rights.”
For now, the clampdown on citizen and campus journalists especially in tertiary institutions by the school’s management is on the rise in Nigeria.
It could be recalled that in October, Taraba State University expelled a first-year student, Joseph Israel, after he repeatedly criticized the state governor, Darius Ishaku, on Facebook.
