-At Nimba University
By Shallon S. Gonlor
Shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY, Liberia — The campus of Nimba University descended into chaos on Friday afternoon after members of three campus-based political parties—the Student Unification Party (SUP), Progressive Student Alliance (PROSA), and the ruling Student Liberation Party (SLP)—reportedly clashed, disrupting a planned visit by Senator Nya D. Twayen, Jr.
The incident reportedly created tension across the university campus, including at its main one-way entrance, preventing the senator from engaging with students and the university administration as scheduled.
During the confrontation, police apprehended some individuals allegedly involved in the clashes and suspected of possessing dangerous weapons, including knives. The arrests reportedly followed the outbreak of violence among members of the student political groups.
The circumstances that triggered the confrontation, including whether the clashes resulted from disagreements among the groups or were directly connected to the senator’s planned visit, remain unclear.
Meanwhile, some aggrieved students alleged that the confrontation was part of a demonstration intended to prevent Senator Twayen from entering the university campus.
The students reportedly expressed frustration over what they described as the senator’s failure to fulfill political promises concerning financial assistance for struggling students and support for the university. They also criticized what they considered his delayed contribution to the institution.
According to the aggrieved students, the planned engagement came at a time when many students were facing financial difficulties and other challenges affecting their academic activities. They expressed dissatisfaction with what they viewed as a gap between the senator’s previous commitments and the assistance they expected to receive.
However, the allegations regarding the motives behind the confrontation have not been independently verified, and it remains unclear whether all three political groups participated in a coordinated effort to block the senator’s visit.
The senator’s arrival reportedly turned violent as supporters of the Student Liberation Party (SLP) claimed they had not been informed of his visit, despite the party’s ruling status. Their alleged lack of prior information reportedly contributed to tensions surrounding the senator’s arrival.
Senator Twayen had reportedly planned to install free internet services and solar-powered lighting on the university campus as part of his visit.
The disruption prevented the planned engagement from proceeding as scheduled and raised concerns about the relationship between student political organizations, elected representatives, and university authorities.
The incident also highlights concerns about student safety and the use of violence to resolve political disagreements or express dissatisfaction with public officials.
The situation underscores the importance of peaceful dialogue among student political groups, university authorities, and elected representatives in addressing concerns about student welfare, financial assistance, and educational development.
