By CrossRiverWatch Admin
The management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has suspended four students in the institution who allegedly tortured a year-one female student during water initiation.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Florence Banku Obi after a committee was set up to investigate the action of the undergraduates which was termed “unacceptable as it depicts human right abuse,” approved the suspension of the four students “who were identified in a viral video and found culpable of partaking in the unlawful act of water ritual on a fellow student during the last matriculation ceremony.”
The Registrar of the University, Mr. Gabriel Egbe in a formal release identified the culpable students as Stephen Howard Usen (Accounting – year 4), Aniefiok Precious Idorenyin (Computer Science – year 2), Miracle Ayomide Adeyemi (Political Science – year 2) and Blessing Queen (Genetics and Biotech – year 4).
The release stated that management deliberated extensively on the report of the Committee on Gender-Based Violence and the strength of its findings and has accordingly directed the affected students to proceed on suspension with effect from the 2020/2021 academic session.
It added that Deans, Heads of Departments (HODs), and other relevant officers of the University have been tasked with the duty of full compliance with the given directive.
The varsity management had a few weeks ago banned all forms of “water ritual” practices during matriculation and graduation days following inhuman treatment meted out on the fresher.