Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Law students of Atiba University in Oyo State have escalated their protest against the institution's management, shutting down the campus and forcing the Deputy Vice Chancellor to make a humiliating escape through a fence to avoid facing the students he had earlier belittled. The dramatic turn of events unfolded on Monday, August 24, 2026, when students of the Faculty of Law, armed with placards, locked the university gates and vowed to remain until their grievances were addressed. The protest, which has drawn the backing of the National Association of Nigerian Students, stems from the Council of Legal Education's decision to impose a 10-year moratorium on the university's Law programme over regulatory violations and inadequate facilities.
The DVC, whose identity has not been officially disclosed, was reportedly trapped on campus as students blocked all exits. In a desperate attempt to leave, he scaled a fence to escape the angry crowd, an image that has since gone viral on social media. The incident comes hours after a heated exchange between the DVC and the students, where he was captured on video telling them, "A lot of you are intellectually bankrupt. If you later become like me in life, thank your Almighty God because I'm a successful man". The condescending remark has sparked widespread outrage, with many questioning the tone of leadership at the institution.
The students' grievances are extensive. They have alleged that the university has been admitting students into an unaccredited Law programme for years, collecting millions in fees while failing to provide adequate lecturers, facilities and even examination results. Graduates who have completed their academic requirements have been unable to proceed to the Nigerian Law School, leaving their professional futures in limbo. The Council of Legal Education reportedly imposed the moratorium after concerns were raised over the programme's regulatory approval and the adequacy of its facilities.
The protest has disrupted academic activities on the campus, with students maintaining that the gates would remain locked until the Vice-Chancellor, Founder and Registrar personally addressed them. Police officers who arrived at the scene appealed to the students to allow the management until Wednesday to respond, but the protesters rejected the appeal, insisting on direct engagement with the university's top authorities.
NANS President Babatunde Afeez Akinteye has thrown the full weight of the student body behind the protest. In a statement, he called on the National Universities Commission to suspend the university's licence until the issues affecting the law students are resolved. "Law students in ATIBA UNIVERSITY, shout down the university, over the injustice done to them by the school management," Akinteye declared in a post on X. He added, "The Leadership of NANS will be joining this agitation going forward".
NANS had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to the university management, demanding a clear pathway for affected students and graduates who had fulfilled their academic requirements. The association also demanded transparency over the academic and financial status of affected students, including fees paid and the status of those who had completed their examinations. With the ultimatum now expired and the protest escalating, NANS has warned that failure to address the issues could lead to the relocation of its national secretariat to Atiba University until the matter is resolved.
The university management has yet to issue an official response to the protest or the DVC's escape. As the standoff continues, the fate of hundreds of law students who invested years and millions in their education hangs in the balance. The message from the students is clear: they will not back down until justice is served. And the DVC's undignified exit through the fence has only strengthened their resolve.
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