Tension as Bauchi Polytechnic students protest armed robbery attack, death of colleague
Tuesday saw a rise in unrest at the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi as students protested against the suspected entry of armed robbers into an off-campus residence in the Gwallameji neighbourhood of Bauchi city, which left one student dead and other items stolen.
The robbery was reported to have occurred on Tuesday about 2:30 a.m.
It was gathered that an unidentified man died as a result of injuries sustained during the robbery attack.
As a result of the frequent robberies in the region, the students organised a protest.
However, the police dispersed the protesters by firing tear gas at them.
Police cars were stationed opposite the school gate to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
In an interview with the media, the students bemoaned the ongoing robbery activity in the student community, noting that a similar event occurred last week.
One of the students, who spoke anonymously for security reasons, stated that they were awakened by their neighbours’ screams for help.
He stated that roughly three student lodges were attacked by the robbers, who numbered around 50.
They allegedly stole students’ belongings, including phones and money.
He said, ”We were alerted by the cries of our neighbours in the wee hours of the night. Apparently, the robbers were attacking some lodges close to where we were staying. They brandished different kinds of weapons which they used in attacking us.
“When we came out, we saw an old man with severe injuries, he was stabbed multiple times after being attacked by the robbers.”
“Those who took the man to the hospital that midnight said he later died after losing so much blood”
“About three lodges were attacked. As we came out to chase them, the robbers were shouting back at us saying ‘Muzo’ meaning ‘we have come for you people’
“Whenever they come and you don’t have anything to give them, they will machete you. They don’t even wear slippers, with their bare legs, they can force any gate open.
“However, In the morning, we were able to track some of the robbers to their hideouts and arrested three suspects but when the Police came, they insisted we release the robbers to them which we refused. Before we knew it, they started to fire tear gas at us.
“They even arrested a female student for insulting them as they were firing teargas.”
When approached at the location of the protest, the spokesperson for the command, SP Ahmed Wakili, said the Police were still working to calm the situation, and he would offer an update later.
