UOG students raise concerns over safety and welfare in Goroka

Students from the University of Goroka have collectively raised concerns about their safety and welfare following the ongoing attacks by the surrounding community.

The students staged a peaceful protest on Thursday last week to unanimously voice their worry on the threats posed by the locals every year.

They petitioned the Eastern Highlands provincial member Simon Sia, Goroka MP Aiye Tambua, provincial police commander Chief Superintendent Michael Welly and the surrounding community leaders to intervene.

The protest orchestrated saw students holding placards and banners while chanting their rights and safety as they marched around the university campus.

They urged EHP leaders to address law and order issues in and around Goroka town and support local leaders to promote peace and a safer community.

Student leader Joshua Sua said there are lot of issues that needs to be addressed immediately to restore some sense of order and safety in the provincial capital city.

The two agendas emphasized in the petition include the call to increase police manpower in Goroka town, and community leaders and UOG management to work together to ensure the safety of the students.

“We petition Eastern Highlands provincial government to provide a lot of police personnel in Goroka town,” Sua said.

The move by the UOG scholars came about after a third-year male student was attacked and ruthlessly wounded by the nearby community early last week.

The injured student from Southern Highlands and another three also sustained injuries in a brawl that similarly damaged their belongings such as laptops, clothes, phones amongst other.  

Whilst this problem has distracted students from studies, the protest hopes to embrace an avenue to ensure students safety and welfare are addressed.