Prof. Chigozie Nkwor Ogbu, Vice Chancellor Ebonyi State University
Rising cases of robbery, vandalism in EBSU worries VC
From Chinedu Nwafor, Abakaliki
The rising Cases of robbery, vandalism, and other forms of criminal activities in Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, is a source of worry to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Chigozie Ogbu.
Ogbu, a former Deputy Governor of the State, made his feelings known, while refuting the allegation making the rounds on the Social Media that the University management auctioned the University’s Vehicles and other valuable items to themselves.
The Vice Chancellor raised the alarm that all armoured cables used in the electricity connections in the different departments and units in the university had been vandalized and stolen.
According to Ogbu, the University management has become helpless in the face of the growing criminal activities, even as he disclosed that the situation has thrown the institution into darkness.
He said that the University management had reported the security challenge to its governing council, with a view to finding a lasting solution to it.
“There’s no single building having armoured cables as a result of high theft in this university. They start stealing in the library before entering the Mass Communication Department of this institution,” he revealed.
The VC recalled that recently a report came to his office that someone was selling laptops with EBSU inscription in Anambra, but the suspect were later traced and arrested by security operatives.
He said the university is currently experiencing a blackout, affecting its academic activities as students taking examinations at the Information Communication Technology (ICT) center write their exams without fans.
Ogbu explained that the school could not engage the services of armed security personnel because, according to him, there is a Federal government policy against using armed security operatives in securing university premises.
He disclosed that the university despite engaging the services of a private security outfit, the hoodlums had continued to invade the school premises to perpetrator their heinous crime.
On the alleged auctioning of a Tata Tipper belonging to the university by the management, Ogbu described the allegation as false, stating that the Tipper was reported missing by the driver handling it.
He maintained that the matter was reported to the police, and suspects in connection to the disappearance had been arrested and the tipper recovered in a forest in Ikwo Local Council Area of Ebonyi State.
Ogbu, however, urged the general public to disregard the allegation, saying the peddlers of the alleged fake news on the social media platforms were merely making futile attempts to tarnish his hard earned image and that of the entire management of the university.
