The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested no fewer than 48 students of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, for allegedly blocking the Bauchi-Tafawa Balewa–Dass highway, burning tyres, hurling stones at motorists, and looting shops during a protest on Tuesday.
The command also paraded three suspected armed robbers believed to have carried out an early morning attack on the institution’s hostels, dispossessing students of their phones and laptops.
According to the spokesman of the command, CSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, the unrest began at about 4:54 am when hoodlums scaled the fence into the hostels, robbing students and injuring some in the process.
“Detectives from E Division moved swiftly to the scene, conveyed the injured to the school clinic and engaged management over students’ grievances.
“The students complained about the porous security, inadequate clinic facilities and other welfare issues. “While the deputy rector and registrar addressed their demands amicably, the situation degenerated as the students blocked the highway, attacked commuters and looted nearby shops,” Wakil said.
He added that reinforcements dispersed the protesting students “using minimal force,” arresting 36 male and 12 female students. The female students were later released, while the males are undergoing profiling.
Further investigation, Wakil said, led to the arrest of 20-year-old Mansur Yakubu, aka Chasu, Abbas Auwal, and Musa Bala, aka Baban Nani, all from Lushi in Bauchi metropolis.
“They confessed to conspiring with others, including an ex-convict, to raid the hostels. Musa Bala admitted he was invited by a certain ‘Daddy’ from Birshin Fulani, the alleged mastermind, to carry out the attack. He revealed he had just completed a two-year jail term for a similar offence three months ago,” Wakil said.
He further said that the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, ordered a discreet investigation, vowing that all those involved in the violent acts would be prosecuted.
“The Command will not tolerate unlawful demonstrations or any act capable of disrupting public peace. While freedom of expression is guaranteed, it must not be misconstrued as licence for criminality,” the police spokesman added.
The management of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, on Tuesday ordered the immediate and indefinite closure of the institution following the violent protest by students over a late-night robbery at the male hostel.
In a statement signed by the Registrar, Alhaji Kasimu Salihu, the institution 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 hijacked what was meant to be a peaceful protest, the statement said.
The management directed all students to vacate the campus within two hours, citing security concerns, and further affirmed that the shutdown would remain in place until further notice.
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 of the victims, 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.
