Amnesty International has called on Madonna University, Elele Campus, Rivers State, to reverse the expulsion of a final-year nursing student and suspension of 14 other 500-level students over a viral TikTok video.
The rights organisation made the call on Thursday, describing the sanctions as disproportionate and urging the university to resolve the matter through dialogue and mediation.
The university expelled a final-year nursing student identified as Mercy and suspended 14 other students after a video showing nursing students dancing in a hospital waiting area, staircase and bus went viral on social media.
The video, recorded at the university’s Elele campus, was part of the “Gen Z nurses” social media challenge.
A 15-second version of the video reportedly attracted more than 1.7 million views on X after it was posted by Yabaleftonline on September 1.
Amnesty warned that the sanctions could disrupt the students’ academic progress and affect their future careers.
It said the affected students had rights to freedom of expression, academic freedom and education, adding that the disciplinary measures could discourage students from exercising those rights.
The organisation urged the university to ensure that its disciplinary policies and procedures comply with international human rights standards.
The development has also attracted appeals from the Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association and the National Association of Nigerian Students.
NUNSA said it had begun discussions with relevant stakeholders to seek a review of the decision, while NANS appealed for clemency over the potential long-term impact of the expulsion on the students.
The university’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Chima Achu, had earlier said the institution would issue an official statement on the matter.
