By SUNTV Global Channel | February 14, 2026
Tension erupted at the Ekehuan Campus of University of Benin on Saturday as angry students staged a mass protest, blocking the main entrance over a prolonged power outage and lack of water supply that has crippled hostel life for days.
The demonstration, which left staff, visitors, and business operators stranded outside the campus, followed what students described as three days of total blackout and dry taps despite the payment of tuition and other institutional fees.
“We can’t keep living like this,” one protesting student told SUNTV Global Channel. “There’s no light, no water, and hostel conditions have become unhygienic and unsafe.”
Security Scare Sparks Outrage
The situation escalated after students raised alarm over a security breach on Friday night. Protesters alleged that an unidentified man armed with a cutlass attempted to enter a female hostel, reportedly injuring a student before fleeing the scene.
The incident heightened fears among residents, with many accusing authorities of neglecting both infrastructure and campus safety.
Management Responds, Students Stand Firm
Addressing the crowd, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Adesina Ayinde assured students that arrangements had been finalized to restore water supply, while efforts were ongoing to fix the electricity problem.
However, the protesters rejected the assurances, insisting the gate would remain locked until water services were fully restored.
Generator Breakdown Blamed
Sources within the campus revealed that the crisis was triggered by the breakdown of the main generator. A backup generator acquired during the tenure of former Vice-Chancellor Friday Orunmwense was reportedly relocated earlier to the Ugbowo main campus, leaving Ekehuan vulnerable.
Academic Activities Disrupted
The protest disrupted lectures, administrative work, and daily campus operations, as students maintained the action was necessary to draw attention to persistent infrastructural decay.
As of the time of filing this report, university management had yet to release an official statement on the situation.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor developments.
