The University of Maiduguri has dismissed claims circulating on social media that some of its students were arrested for allegedly collaborating with Boko Haram insurgents, describing the allegations as false, baseless and misleading.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ahmad Lawan, the University Registrar, stated that no student of the institution has been linked to Boko Haram or any other extremist group. He stressed that the viral video making the rounds on social media was mischievous and did not reflect the reality on campus.
“The attention of the management of the University of Maiduguri has been drawn to a misleading and disturbing viral video claiming that students of the University were arrested for collaborating with Boko Haram insurgents,” the statement read.
“The University management wishes to categorically state that the allegations contained in the video are baseless, false and mischievous. No student of the University has been found to have links with Boko Haram insurgents or any similar group.”
Lawan noted that the university has zero tolerance for extremism or violence in any form, adding that the institution has consistently played an active role in countering violent extremism, promoting peace and supporting national security efforts, particularly in the North-East.
He described the university community as made up of disciplined and law-abiding staff and students from diverse backgrounds who are focused on academic pursuits.
“Our students are trained in both character and learning, have demonstrated good conduct and remain committed to their studies,” the statement added.
The university urged parents, guardians, the media and the general public to disregard the false claims, warning that the spread of misinformation could cause unnecessary panic and damage the institution’s reputation.
It reaffirmed its commitment to academic excellence, moral discipline and the promotion of peace, security and national unity, while calling on the public to refrain from sharing unverified reports.
