At least 70 lecturers have parted ways with the University of Maiduguri following recent attacks on the institution by terror group Boko Haram.

The insurgents, during its recent attack on oil workers in Maiduguri, killed five lecturers, while three, based on a video it released, are being held.

And the chairman of the university’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr. Dani Mamman, told Punch urged the Nigerian government to step up security in the area.

He said the union had wanted to close down the institution but UNIMAID’s management resisted it.

He said, “About 70 lecturers left, about five died and three are held hostage by Boko Haram. The admission figure of students have been dropping since insurgency started in 2012. We don’t know what will happen to the admission of students this year.

“The exit of some lecturers has affected research and learning because some are specialists in their fields. Usually, such exodus affects accreditation of some programmes and courses.

“We requested the government to increase security personnel, security gadgets and construction of the 23.7 km perimeter fence. In the interim, the state governor has started building a 10.3 km perimeter fence.