ATBU: Students protest killing of final year colleague

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) was yesterday shut down by the management of the institution following students’ protest over the killing of a final-year student by a suspected gang of phone robbers.  

The students were protesting the gruesome murder of their 500-level colleague, Joseph Obiaje Agabaidu, of the Geology Department, at the Yelwa campus of the university after allegedly being stabbed to death by suspected armed robbers who tried to steal his phone.

The protesting students told Vanguard that they were expressing concern over the alleged failure of the government and school management to provide adequate security for students living off-campus.

Agabaidu, who was said to be the eldest among four children of his family, hailed from Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State was returning to his lodge situated in Yelwan Tudu on that fateful Saturday before he was gruesomely murdered.

The Deputy Registrar Academic of the institution, Hajia Fatima Abdullahi, in a statement, said the Vice Chancellor has approved the closure of the university for an initial period of one week with effect from Monday, December 4 to Sunday, December 10, 2023.

“Therefore, I am directed to request all undergraduate students on both campuses to vacate the university premises with immediate effect as failure to comply may lead to appropriate sanctions by the constituted authority,” the statement reads," the statement said.

It further directed the Dean of Students Affairs Division and the Chief Security Officer to ensure strict compliance with the directive.

Also, reacting, the Director of Information and Public Relations, Zailani Bappa, said the university was closed to avert the situation from deteriorating, saying that the Students Union Government (SUG) dissociated itself from the protest.

NANS calls for improved security on campuses  

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has called for improved security surveillance and patrols in and around campuses in the country.

Making the call in a statement, yesterday, the Senate President of NANS,  Akinteye Afeez, said such development should be curtailed and the lives of Nigerian youths adequately protected.

He said: “It is with profound grief that we acknowledge and mourn the tragic loss of our fellow student, Agabaidu Obiaje Joseph, a final year Geology student at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi State. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family, friends, and the entire student community affected by this heart-wrenching incident.

“We are saddened by this deeply distressing incident that unfolded at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi State that has resulted in the tragic loss of our fellow student. The life of Agabaidu was abruptly cut short in a stabbing incident, a grim consequence of assailants attempting to forcefully seize his phone.

“This unfortunate event eerily echoes a similar incident last December, further underscoring the pressing need for heightened security measures within our academic institutions. 

"In light of this heartbreaking loss, I call on the management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), the police force, and the Bauchi State government to prioritize and intensify security efforts within and around the university campus. The safety and well-being of our students is non-negotiable, and proactive measures must be implemented to prevent future occurrences of such tragic incidents.”

Culled from Vanguard