Tag: Federal Polytechnic Bauchi

The management of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, on Tuesday ordered the indefinite closure of the institution following a violent protest by students over a late-night robbery at the male hostel.

In a statement signed by the Registrar, Alhaji Kasimu Salihu, the school said it received “disturbing news” of an attack by “unscrupulous elements” who broke into the male hostel, carted away students’ belongings, and injured at least two students.

“While Management acted immediately with all principal officers and staff on ground to address the situation, hoodlums who do not mean the students or the institution hijacked what was meant to be a peaceful protest,” the statement read.

The management directed all students to vacate the campus within two hours, citing security concerns, and said the shutdown would remain in place until further notice.

Our correspondent gathered that the robbery occurred overnight, with students alleging that the school failed to provide adequate security.

The incident sparked an early-morning protest, with angry students blocking the Bauchi–Dass Road and barricading the institution’s main gate.

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The demonstration escalated when suspected hoodlums joined, blocking the federal highway near the campus. Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, prompting stone-throwing from some protesters before they were overpowered.

SUG President, Haruna Umar, condemned the attack, describing it as unprecedented in the school’s history. “This is students showing their grievances to management and authorities,” he said.

One victim, Matta Musa, a class representative of ND I Computer Science, sustained a head injury, while several others were taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ahmed Wakil, said he was at the scene working to restore calm and promised a detailed statement once investigations were complete.

Tension erupted on Tuesday, June 25, at the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi as students protested following an invasion by suspected armed robbers in off-campus accommodations in the Gwallameji area of the Bauchi metropolis, known as a student community.

The attack, which occurred around 2:30 am on Tuesday, resulted in one fatality and the theft of various properties.

The Nation gathered that an unidentified man reportedly died from injuries sustained during the attack.

In response to this tragic event, students organised a protest against the recurring robbery incidents in the area.

However, police dispersed the protesters by using tear gas

Our reporter, who visited the protest scene, observed police vehicles stationed opposite the school gate to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

In an interview with The Nation, students lamented the ongoing robberies in their community, noting a similar incident had occurred the previous week.

One student, speaking anonymously for security reasons, said they were alerted by the cries of their neighbours who were screaming for help.

He revealed that the affected lodges were attacked by robbers numbering about 50, who made off with students’ properties, including phones and laptops.

He recounted: “We were alerted by the cries of our neighbours in the early hours of the morning. The robbers were attacking lodges close to ours, brandishing various weapons. When we came out, we saw an old man with severe injuries; he had been stabbed multiple times.”

“Those who took the man to the hospital said he later died after losing so much blood.”

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“About three lodges were attacked. As we tried to chase them away, the robbers shouted back, saying ‘Muzo,’ meaning ‘we have come for you people.’ They don’t hesitate to machete anyone who has nothing to give them. They can force any gate open with their bare feet.”

“In the morning, we tracked some of the robbers to their hideouts and arrested three suspects. However, when the police arrived, they insisted we hand the robbers over, which we refused. The police then began firing tear gas at us.

“They even arrested a female student for insulting them while they were firing tear gas.”

When approached by our reporter at the scene of the protest, the spokesman of the Bauchi command, SP Ahmed Wakili, said the police were still trying to calm the situation and would provide an update later.