Activist and Students Detained by University of Ibadan Security During Protest Against Tuition Fee Increase

In response to protests against a recent hike in tuition fees, the security team at the University of Ibadan has detained three individuals, including an activist and two students.

The detained students are identified as Aduwo Ayodele and Nice Linus, while the activist taken into custody is Femi Adeyeye. The arrests were made on Monday morning amidst ongoing demonstrations against the escalated cost of education at the institution.

Efforts to obtain comments from the university management regarding the situation have been unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

This development comes after the University of Ibadan Students’ Union Executive Council, led by Samuel Samson Tobiloba, condemned the 750% tuition fee increase for new students in April. The council demanded an immediate reversal of the hike and sought a meeting with university officials to address the issue.

According to reports, the new fees range from N133,500 to N372,500, depending on the courses, representing a significant escalation from the previous fee structure, which ranged from N20,000 to N30,000.

In response to the protests, the students’ union advised incoming students to refrain from hastily paying the new fees and urged the university management to revert to the previous fee structure.

Additionally, the Students’ Representative Council, led by Rt. Hon. Omotunde Olamide, convened an emergency sitting on April 11, 2024, to discuss the union’s stance on the inflated fees for incoming students.

The detention of the activists and students underscores the escalating tensions between the university administration and the student body over the issue of tuition fees.