Robbery At Federal Polytechnic Bauchi Leaves Students Injured, Triggers Protest

NO fewer than 10 students of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, sustained varying degrees of injury following an armed robbery attack on the institution’s hostels during the early hours of Tuesday.

Eyewitnesses reported that more than 50 assailants stormed the hostel premises at approximately 2:00 a.m., brandishing firearms and machetes. Students who attempted to resist were violently assaulted, with one reportedly suffering a spinal cord injury.

In response to the incident, students launched a peaceful protest at the main gate of the Polytechnic, blocking the Bauchi–Tafawa Balewa Federal Highway and calling on authorities to urgently address the worsening security situation on campus.

Many students expressed frustration over the lack of effective security within the institution, despite the presence of internal security personnel.

They noted that the hostels are often shrouded in darkness at night due to inadequate electricity, further heightening their vulnerability.

“We were asleep when we heard screams from the neighbouring blocks. Armed men, speaking in Hausa, attacked us with guns and cutlasses. They injured several of us,” one student recounted.

Among those seriously injured was Matta Musa, a class representative of ND I Computer Science, who sustained a head injury. Several others were taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) for medical treatment.

Students accused the police of failing to intervene, despite the proximity of a police outpost located at the main gate of the institution.

The President of the Student Union Government (SUG), Haruna Umar, condemned the incident, describing it as unprecedented in the Polytechnic’s history.

He emphasised that the protest was a demonstration of students’ justified grievances.

However, the demonstration escalated when suspected hoodlums infiltrated the protest, leading to a blockade of the federal highway. Police officers dispersed the crowd using tear gas, prompting some students to retaliate with stones before order was eventually restored.

Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Police Command, CSP Mohammed Ahmed Wakil, said that normalcy had returned and that officers had been deployed to maintain law and order.

“Last night, criminals infiltrated the male hostels, attacking some students and sparking a protest. The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to ensuring public safety under the leadership of Commissioner Sani-Omolori Aliyu,” he stated.

Wakil urged students to cooperate with law enforcement agencies, adding that security is a collective responsibility.

He expressed disappointment over the protest turning disruptive, noting that the road was cleared to restore public movement.

The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Rabiu Wadda, stated that the school’s management was actively managing the crisis.

He confirmed that the Polytechnic had been shut down indefinitely to prevent further unrest.

“I have been on campus since 4:00 a.m. trying to control the situation. Although I cannot confirm the exact number of injured students, some have been taken to hospital,” Wadda said.

In an official statement signed by the Registrar, Alhaji Kasimu Salihu, the management announced the immediate suspension of academic activities and ordered all students to vacate the campus within two hours.

The statement acknowledged the initial peaceful nature of the protest but said it had been hijacked by external elements with malicious intent.

Management assured that necessary steps would be taken to address the security concerns and restore calm.