3 Dr. John Garang University students arrested over protest

The police in the Jonglei State capital, Bor town, have arrested three students involved in protests at Dr. John Garang University of Science and Technology.

The police in the Jonglei State capital, Bor town, have arrested three students involved in protests at Dr. John Garang University of Science and Technology.

On Tuesday, protests erupted at the campus after the university administration announced that those who failed or missed out on exams will either be asked to repeat a class or dismissed as part of a policy the institution adopted in 2019.

The university’s decision was however met with protests by about 150 affected students and disrupting lectures.

Chol Achiek Deng, the deputy state police commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj Friday that they arrested the ringleaders of the protesting students at the university’s request in order to restore calm.

“After a tip-off by the university administration, we intervened arresting 5. In the investigation process, we released two. We are now left with only three,” he said.

The police officer pointed out that the suspects have been charged for causing disorder and that they will be arraigned in court.

One of the detained students, Aleu Bol, lashed out at the police for intervening saying the protests were peaceful.   

For his part, Dr. Nartiso Odongo, the University’s academic registrar, said they demanded the arrest of the students because they were disrupting lectures and posing threats to the institution’s properties. He called on the affected students to abide by the new policy.