Residents of Otuoke, host to the Federal University, Otuoke, have taken to the streets of the university town disrupting academic activities at the university.

They were protesting alleged marginalisation of indigenes into key positions in the institution located in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

The protest which caused panic among students and staff of the Institution also disrupted vehicular movements while the entrance to the institution was blocked by the protesters.

The protest was led by members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Otuoke chapter.

The protesters carried placards with different inscriptions such as “Bayelsans cannot be marginalised in our own lands”, “We want fair representation, Bayelsans are qualified”, “FUO na our oil well, Gbam!” and “It is our time, Bayelsans say”. The protesters barricaded the entrance gate in their numbers, singing and clapping the hands.

They called on the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Accra Jaja, to come down and address the situation.

Amongst their demands was the termination of the recent appointment of the institution Chief Legal Adviser, who according to them, did not follow due process.

They said the appointment was a deliberate attempt to marginalise indigenes and also to further underdevelop the people of the region.

The Vice-Chancellor, who arrived to address the protesters in company of the Deputy Vice Chancellor some members of the University Senate called for calm down, promising to look into their demands.

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