The protest was over the killing of a final-year Geology student, Joseph Agabaidu, who was murdered by suspected armed robbers.
The management of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi on Monday suspended all academic activities in the university for one week over a protest embarked upon by students.
The protest was over the killing of a final-year Geology student, Joseph Agabaidu, who was murdered by suspected armed robbers.
This was disclosed in a circular released by the university’s Deputy Registrar Academy, Haj. Fatima Inuwa Abdullahi and obtained by SaharaReporters on Tuesday morning.
According to the circular, the school management directed all the students to vacate the campuses immediately. They are expected to resume after December 10, 2023.
The circular reads: “As you may recall that there was an alleged murder of Joseph Aga Baidu, a 500 level student Applied Geology recently at Yelwa Kagadama which made some miscreant to embark on protest around Yelwa Campus and consequently disrupting the peace.
“In view of the above, the Vice Chancellor, on behalf of the Senate, has approved the closure of the University for an initial period of one week with effect from Monday 4th to Sunday 10th December, 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 sanction by the constituted authority.
“By a copy of this notice, the Dean, Students Affairs Division and Chief Security Officer are requested to ensure strict compliance of the directive, please.”
Aga Baidu, a 500-level student in the Department of Geology, was stabbed to death by suspected robbers on Saturday evening at about 7 p.m.
He was said to be heading to his residence at Yelwan Tudu, about one kilometre from the school gate when he was stabbed.
He died on Sunday morning despite efforts by health personnel to save him.
This led to a protest by the students who demanded an immediate intervention by the school management and government on the matter. The protesting students also asked for adequate security within the university’s environment on Monday.
One of the protesting students who spoke to SaharaReporters narrated how the Nigeria Police Force dispersed them with teargas.
“We were confronted by the police. They shot teargas at us because we were only telling the authorities to do what is right. Even before the student was killed by these robbers during the weekend, we have been facing a lot of security issues but the neither the government nor the management see the need to solve them,” the student said.
SaharaReporters also tried to reach the Bauchi State Command Public Relations Officer, Thomas Guni for comment but he did not answer despite repeated calls.
He also did not reply to a text message sent to him.