The management of the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi has announced the immediate closure of academic activities following a peaceful protest that turned violent at the institution.
WikkiTimes gathered that suspected armed robbers invaded the institution’s male students’ hostel.
A student who identified as Yahaya Musa said he was also robbed when the attackers invaded the hostel around 1:30 am. He added that they came “en masse with machetes and guns and stole phones, laptops and injured students who failed to cooperate.”
Musa noted that the robbers attacked students in the male hostel, information communication technology (ICT) centre and Mass Communication department.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Registrar, Alhaji Kasimu Salihu, unidentified hoodlums invaded the hostel, carted away students’ belongings, and injured at least two occupants.
The incident, which generated outrage among students, led to a protest at the institution’s main gate. The management stated that while the initial demonstration was peaceful, it was later hijacked by “unscrupulous elements” who, they claimed, did not have the interests of the students or the school at heart.
“All principal officers and management staff showed up to address the students and the situation. However, in view of the ugly development, the management has ordered the immediate closure of academic activities,” the statement read in part.
The Polytechnic has directed all students to vacate the campus within two hours, pending further notice.
At the time of filing this report, the identities of the attackers had not been confirmed, and the condition of the injured students remained unknown. Security operatives have been deployed to restore order in and around the campus.
Sources in Gwallameji close to the Polytechnic said the students have blocked a major road at the Main gate of the institution before police fired tear gas to disperse them.
