Bauchi varsity students go on rampage as soldiers assault ASUU chair on campus
There was pandemonium at the Yelwa Campus of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State after students went on a rampage to express their anger over the alleged assault on the Chairperson of the Academic Staff Union of the University, Dr Ibrahim Inuwa, by some military men.
The PUNCH learnt that the incident occurred when some military men in a convoy of two vehicles drove into the campus but were stopped by the university’s security and prevented from going inside because their vehicles had tinted glasses.
It was learnt that while the security personnel were still dragging with the military men, the ASUU Chairperson got to the gate and sought to inquire what was happening. This led to the soldiers allegedly assaulting him with slaps.
On Monday night, scores of students were seen shouting and insisting that the five soldiers, who were taken to the institution’s security office be released to them so they could avenge what was done to the ASUU chair.
The two major gates leading to the campus were closed down and blocked by the students as they denied cars access into the school, while those going out had to also turn back.
At the security office where the soldiers were taken, the students tried to force themselves inside, but they were prevented by the school’s security, popularly called “Baba Blue.”
Narrating the incident at the security office, Inuwa said he was on his way home when he saw the soldiers harassing the security man on duty at the gate.
He said he parked his car and came to ask what was going on, but immediately, the soldiers started hauling abuse on him, adding that one of them suddenly descended on him with slaps.
Inuwa said, “Just this (Monday) night, a few minutes after 8 pm, I was going out of the university and I saw a convoy of two vehicles, they were busy arguing and harassing the security man on duty. At that time, most of the security men were praying in a mosque by the gate. So I had to stop because it is my responsibility as the chairman of the union.
“I told them that this is a university and we have our rules, and the next thing, they started shoving me, then one of them went to the extreme and slapped me three consecutive times. I called their attention that what they have done is wrong, and I told them they would regret it. You can even see the prints of the slaps on my face.
“They were claiming that they are military guys but to give us their details was a problem. They were on mufti and they forced their way into the university.”
The National Internal Auditor of ASUU, Adamu Babayo, condemned the action of the soldiers, saying that without the quick intervention of the school’s security and some lecturers, the students could have been lynched them.
Babayo, the immediate past ASUU chair, ATBU Branch, added, “They (the military men) are at the security office, we want to know them, but their officers are protecting them and saying we should free them.
“We have our own rules, just as they have theirs in the military. So, what we are telling them is that we are going to use our own rules to address this matter,” Babayo said.
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