The management of University of Lagos noted that the hoodlums, during an attack on the school bus, stole gowns intended for its graduates for the 54th Convocation ceremony, scheduled to be held yesterday.
The graduates were mandated to pay N15,000 to obtain the convocation gowns.
However, amid preparations, reports emerged that some graduates who made the payment received a notification from the university administration stating that the distribution of the gowns had been halted due to the vandalism committed by the unknown criminals.
An email from the university to one of the graduates reads: “We regret to inform you that the distribution of SPGS academic gowns is now suspended. Sadly, the remaining gowns were stolen, and our bus was vandalised this afternoon.”
Confirming the development, a lawyer, who identified himself as Malachy Odo, said he had received the identical notification from the school through text messages after his payment of the fee designated for the gown collection.
Odo said: “I paid 15, 000 for a convocation gown yesterday and this is what UNILAG just sent me. This country is not a real place.”
Incident currently being investigated —UNILAG
When contacted, the Head of Communications unit of the university, Mrs Ajoke Alaga-Ibrahim said the incident is currently being investigated.
She disclosed, in a statement: “The University of Lagos, UNILAG, management wishes to debunk certain online reports claiming that the University was attacked by hoodlums on Monday, January 15, 2024.
“For clarification, the incident that occurred at the University on the said date had to do with crowd control during the release of academic gowns to graduating students of the School of Postgraduate Studies (SPGS) ahead of their convocation ceremony on Thursday, January 18, 2024.
“During the incident, some yet-to-be-issued gowns were taken, and the vehicle where the gowns were kept and being distributed from was damaged.
“The incident is currently being investigated to ascertain its cause, culpable individuals, level of damage, and to prevent a recurrence.
“We appreciate our esteemed stakeholders for their concern, and plead with the general public to disregard wild narratives trailing the incident.”
