Amnesty International has called on Madonna University, Elele Campus, Rivers State, to rescind the expulsion of a final-year nursing student and the suspension of 14 other 500-level nursing students over a viral TikTok video.
The human rights organisation described the disciplinary measures as disproportionate and urged the university to prioritise dialogue and mediation in resolving the matter.
The students were sanctioned after a video recorded at the university reportedly went viral on social media. One final-year nursing student was expelled, while 14 other 500-level students were suspended.
Amnesty International argued that the sanctions could have serious consequences for the students’ education and academic progress.
It said the university should reconsider the measures, warning that imposing what it described as heavy-handed academic or disciplinary sanctions could effectively terminate the affected students’ academic progress.
According to the organisation, the students have rights to freedom of expression, education and academic freedom, and the sanctions could have a chilling effect on the exercise of those rights.
Amnesty International also called on Madonna University to ensure that its institutional policies and disciplinary procedures conform to international human rights standards.
The organisation urged the university to uphold the rights of all members of its community, including students’ rights to education, freedom of expression and academic freedom.
The intervention comes amid calls for a review of the sanctions imposed on the nursing students following the circulation of the video.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) had also appealed to the university to reconsider the expulsion, while acknowledging the need for students to comply with institutional rules and professional expectations.
The controversy has consequently broadened from the conduct of the students to questions about the appropriate balance between institutional discipline, professional standards, freedom of expression and students’ right to education.
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