Tafawa Balewa Varsity Shut Down after Students Protest Murder of Colleague

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) has shut down the university with immediate effect following students protest yesterday.

The students were protesting the gruesome murder of their 500 level colleague, Joseph Obiaje Agabaidu, of the Geology department, at the Yelwa campus of the University.

The closure was contained in a press statement signed by the Deputy Registrar Academic for the Registrar, Hajia Fatima Inuwa Abdullahi.

The statement said 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 yesterday December 4 to Sunday December 10, 2023.

“Therefore, I am directed to request all undergraduates 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,” the statement stated.

It directed the Dean of students Affairs Division and the Chief Security Officer to ensure strict compliance of the directive

He was allegedly stabbed to death by suspected armed robbers who tried to steal his phone.

The protest started around 8: 00 am at Yelwa gate with the heavy presence of police who prevented the students from coming outside the University campus by shutting the gate.

They tried to disperse the students with tear gas while the students in turn blocked the entrance of the Yelwa Campus.

THISDAY checks revealed that the protesting students turned deaf ear to the Deputy Professor Sani Usman Kunya, Vice Chancellor Academic who tried to appease them to sheath their sword.

The protesting students expressed concern over what they termed the failure of the government and school management to provide adequate security for students staying off-campus.

The students were enraged about the gruesome murder of Agabaidu said to be the eldest among four children of his family.

Agabaudu, who hailed from Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, was returning to his lodge situated around the Yelwan Tudu market at about 7.00pm on Saturday, when he was waylaid and killed.

He was said to have succumbed to injuries and passed away on Sunday morning.

It was learnt that last December another student lost his life in a phone-related struggle.

Addressing the press later in the day, the Director, Information and Public Relations, Zailani Bappa, said the University was closed to avert the situation from deteriorating.