ATBU Bauchi shut down school as students protest murder of final-year student by robbers

Story from Ahmad SAKA, Bauchi

Management of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi has closed the school in response to a protest by students of the institution over the death of Joseph Agabaidu, a final-year Geology student, who was allegedly murdered in Yelwa, a suburb community that is close to the University Campus.

Some of the students were protesting the death of the final-year student who was stabbed to death by thieves on Saturday night at around 7 p.m.

Neptune Prime gathered that Agabaidu was said to be heading to his residence at Yelwan Tudu, about one kilometre from the school gate, when he was attacked and stabbed by a robbery gang and his mobile phone and other valuables were stolen.

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The deceased succumbed to his wounds and gave up the ghost on Sunday morning despite efforts by health personnel to save his life.

A student who spoke on the incident said, “In the wake of this heartbreaking loss, we implore the school management, the police, and the Bauchi State Government to prioritise and enhance the security of students within the state.

“Our community should not have to endure such sorrow. Proactive measures are crucial to preventing further tragedies.

Policemen in patrol vehicles took control of the protest to maintain law and order, but they had to use teargas to disperse the protesting students who blocked the university gate.

Addressing Journalists on Monday over the incident, the spokesman of the University Malam Zailani Bappa said that the management decided to close the school to avert a breakdown of law and order within the university community that may cascade to surrounding communities.

He said that despite the management’s best efforts to ease the unrest, some of the protesting students openly showed disdain for the administration that came to calm them and enable the police to conduct their investigation.

According to Zailani, the university administration was informed of the purported murder and immediately notified the police, promising to pursue the case to its logical end.

He added that all students of the institution must abide by the directive and vacate all of its campuses with immediate effect.

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