ATBU Shuts Down Campuses and Orders Immediate Evacuation Amidst Student Protests

The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi has taken the decision to close its Yelwa and Gubi campuses, instructing all students to vacate the premises urgently. The directive follows a peaceful protest by students grieving the death of Joseph Agabaidu, a 500-level geology student who was reportedly murdered by suspected armed robbers.

Zailani Bappah, the Director of Information for the University, announced the closure at a press briefing held at the University Guest House in Bauchi on Monday. Bappah stated that the measure aims to prevent potential destruction and violence anticipated from the students, who have been protesting peacefully.

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The closure, initially for one week, is intended to assess the behavior of the students. The security department of the university has been tasked with ensuring the immediate evacuation of students from both campuses, with measures to be taken against any student who refuses to comply.

Bappah clarified that the murdered student, Joseph Agabaidu, resided outside the campus, and the university had limited knowledge of students living off-campus. He assured that the security department promptly reported the incident to the police for investigation.

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Despite efforts by the university management to ease tensions and allow the police to conduct a thorough investigation, the students remained adamant, expressing a readiness to resort to violence. Bappah expressed hope that the one-week closure would provide an opportunity for the students to calm down, reducing tension and allowing normalcy to return.