Student unrest at USK Aceh as Faculty of Agriculture building and six vehicles burned

A fire at the Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) campus in Banda Aceh occurred around 04:40 WIB on Thursday, 21 May 2026. The blaze swept through facilities within the Faculty of Agriculture building, with four motorcycles and two cars also burned. Firefighters from the Banda Aceh City Fire and Rescue Service were deployed to gather reports from residents; by 06:00 the fire had been brought under control, Inspektur Muda Kebakaran Yudi said in a confirmation.

The incident is suspected to have occurred amid unrest among students from two faculties on the campus. The university is awaiting the results of investigations by authorities. Rector Prof Mirza Tabrani said: “We have coordinated and are awaiting the investigation results from authorities regarding the unrest among student groups within the USK campus.”

He urged lecturers to remind and guide students to uphold prudence, academic ethics, and not be easily swayed by information that could arouse unrest. “We appreciate the attention and care shown by the entire academic community towards our beloved campus, the heart of the Acehnese people. Let us work together to keep the campus safe, conducive, and under control so that teaching and learning can continue as usual,” he added.

In addition, the university has coordinated with faculty leadership, campus security, and authorities to strengthen security and mitigate and anticipate potential security disturbances in the future. “Thank you to all parties for their cooperation and commitment to upholding ukhuwah values, including campus security and order,” Mirza said.