The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) has strongly refuted allegations circulating in a viral social media video claiming that some of its students were arrested for collaborating with Boko Haram insurgents, describing the report as false, baseless and mischievous.
In an official statement issued on Tuesday, the Registrar of the University, Ahmad Lawan, clarified that no student of the institution has been found to have any link with Boko Haram or any other extremist group operating in the North-East or elsewhere in the country.
According to the Registrar, the attention of the university management was drawn to what he described as a misleading and disturbing video making rounds on social media platforms, which falsely alleged that UNIMAID students were involved in terrorist activities.
“The University management wishes to categorically state that the allegations contained in the video are baseless, false and mischievous. No student of the University of Maiduguri has been found to have links with Boko Haram insurgents or any other similar groups,” the statement read.
Lawan stressed that the University of Maiduguri has zero tolerance for extremism, violence or criminality in any form, noting that the institution has consistently played an active role in countering violent extremism and supporting peace-building efforts in the North-East region.
He explained that UNIMAID, given its location and history, has remained at the forefront of promoting peaceful coexistence, civic responsibility and national security consciousness among its students, staff and host communities.
“The University community consists of disciplined, law-abiding staff and students drawn from diverse backgrounds, all of whom are engaged primarily in academic pursuits,” the statement noted, adding that students of the institution are trained in both character and learning.
The Registrar further emphasised that UNIMAID students have consistently demonstrated good conduct, resilience and commitment to their studies despite the security challenges that have affected the region over the years.
The university also cautioned against the spread of unverified information, warning that such false narratives could create unnecessary fear, stigmatise students and staff, and unfairly damage the image of the institution.
Parents, guardians, the media and members of the public were urged to disregard the viral video and rely only on verified information from official sources, particularly on sensitive security-related matters.
Reaffirming the institution’s values, the management stated that the University of Maiduguri remains firmly committed to academic excellence, moral discipline, peace-building, national unity and continued collaboration with security agencies in safeguarding lives and property.
