ATBU Shut Down Over Students Protest

The management of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi has shut down the institution following students’ protest over the killing of a 500-level Geology student by suspected armed robbers who robbed him of his mobile phone.

It was earlier reported that the final year student had been fatally stabbed to death by armed robbers in an attempted phone theft, while he was heading to his lodge in Yelwan Tudu, a suburb of the Bauchi metropolis, about one kilometer from the school gate, around 7 pm on Saturday.

The incident thereafter sparked a protest where students came out in numbers on Monday morning at the Yelwa campus.

See Also: ATBU Final Year Student Stabbed to Death

Following the protest, the management led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sani Kunya, and the state chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities tried to pacify the students who locked the two gates of the university for over four hours to open them, but they refused, leading to the school being shut down for the next one week in order to reduce the tension on campus.

According to a statement  by the Deputy Registrar Academic, Fatima Abdullahi, titled: “Closure of university,” the Vice Chancellor approved the closure of the institution.

She mentioned that the management directed all students to immediately vacate the two campuses, adding that the school security guards have been directed to enforce strict compliance.

Related: Police Teargas ATBU Students During Protest Over killing of Undergraduate

She said, “As you may recall, there was an alleged murder of Joseph Agabaidu, a 500-level student Applied Geology recently at Yelwa Kagadama which made some miscreants 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, December 4 to Sunday, December 10, 2023.

Read More: ATBU important notice to female students residing in Gubi Campus of the University

“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.”