Tension gripped parts of Adamawa State on Monday as students of the Adamawa State Polytechnic, Yola, staged a protest over a prolonged power outage that has crippled academic and living conditions on campus.
The demonstration, which began peacefully within the school premises, quickly spilled into nearby streets as students marched with placards and chanted slogans such as “We want electricity!” The protest soon disrupted traffic and drew the attention of security operatives.
Witnesses said tempers flared when a group of students clashed with unsuspecting passersby, prompting the police to intervene and restore order.
Students who spoke to journalists expressed frustration, saying they had been without electricity for over three months—a situation they described as both unbearable and disruptive to their academic activities.
“Our studies are suffering. It’s our right to have basic amenities like electricity, water, and shelter,” a student said.
Another added: “We can’t study effectively at night. The heat is too much to sleep, and we have to search outside campus just to get water to bathe.”
In response, the Acting Registrar of the institution, Simnawa Ayuba, announced the immediate closure of the school for one week.
“Sequel to the demonstration by students on the main campus demanding the immediate restoration of power by YEDC, I wish to inform all students that the institution has been closed for one week. This is to enable the management to process the restoration of light,” Ayuba stated in an internal memo.
This marks the second protest in less than a year by students over poor living conditions, particularly the lack of electricity and water, which they say continue to hinder academic progress.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the school management nor the Adamawa State Government had issued a formal response to the students’ demands.
The NigerianEducationNews will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as developments unfold.
