CSO Condemns Killing of Tafawa Balewa Varsity Student in Bauchi

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

A civil society organization (CSO) known as Young Leaders Network (YLN) has vehemently condemned  the gruesome killing of a 500 level Geology student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi at Yelwa community.

This is as the Bauchi State Police Command has explained that the murdered 500 level student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University(ATBU) was stabbed with a sharp knife while trying to help his girlfriend recover a snatched phone.

The CSO also condemned what it called the inconsiderate actions taken by the leadership of the University in response to the protest staged by the aggrieved students of the University.

According to a press statement signed by Its Executive Director, Seun Justin Onarinde, and made available to Journalists yesterday, “Young Leaders Network condemns in its entirety the evil act of taking one’s life as perpetrated against a promising final-year student, a great asset to the nation and a pillar to his family.”

The statement said: “It will be recalled as reported by credible media channels that Mr. Joseph Agabaidu, a 500 level student of Geology, was stabbed by a robbery gang on Saturday evening at about 7:00 pm in Yelwa Tudu, a community less than a kilometre from the ATBU Yalwa Campus.”

“This attack no doubt is one of the numerous others suffered by the University communities and residents within the State metropolis. This incident also revealed the security of lives and properties in the metropolis that hosts about three Tertiary Institutions (Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Federal Polytechnics Bauchi, and College of Agriculture, Bauchi).”

“We therefore, call on law enforcement agencies especially the Nigerian Police Force to double up the efforts to curb the activities of violent and extremist gangs that have gained a new occupation of breaking into people’s homes, harming, and destroying properties of innocent residents and students.”

“We hope the perpetrators of this evil act be found and brought to book. We also call for improved coordination among the State’s security agencies (Nigerian Police Force, NSCDC, etc), local security groups, and the management of the Tertiary Institutions to ensure the safety of all students and staff of the Tertiary Institutions.”

“We are all custodians in the security of our students who left their homes to reside in our communities. Young Leaders Network also strongly condemns the response of the management of ATBU to the protest staged by the aggrieved students in response not only to the killing but to the attack of other students in the host communities.”

According to the CSO, “It may be recalled that yesterday (Monday), the University released a memo directing the students to vacate both campuses of the university with immediate effect. YLN believes strongly that a reputable institution like ATBU should be considerate of the safety and security of the thousands of students they sent off from the hostel; many of whom traveled from far and near without relatives to stay with.”

”The school also understands the financial state of the students who couldn’t afford hotel accommodation for the one week of lectures. The action of dismissing students impromptu has brought untold hardships on both students and their parents while also exposing them to danger.”

Meanwhile, the Bauchi State Police Command has explained that the murdered 500 level student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University was stabbed with a sharp knife while trying to help girlfriend recover a snatched phone.

The Bauchi state Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa Mohammed made this known in a Crime bulletin made available to newsmen yesterday  by the Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO) SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil.

According to the bulletin, the CP made this known when he received in audience, the leadership of two students bodies (NUBAS and SUG ) in his office at the State Command Headquarters.

The bulletin noted that the visit by the students unions was prompted by the recent incident which occurred on 02/12/2023 where  some  unknown persons, numbers not ascertained, snatched a handbag containing a mobile phone belonging to a lady one Philomena Ahobee, ‘f’ 28yrs a student of Abubakar Tatari Polytechnic (ATAP) Bauchi.

The CP said as a result, her boyfriend Agbaidu Joseph, ‘m’ aged 28 years of Anguwan Ngas who is a student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa university (ATBU) Bauchi, tried to help her to retrieve the handbag containing the phone.

The crime bulletin further said that the assailant(s) stabbed him on the left-side of his chest with a sharp knife. 

CP Auwal disclosed that the victim was rushed to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi for treatment but was certified dead while on admission by a medical doctor.

The CP, who observed a minute silence in honour of the murdered student, assured them of the deployment of the  Intelligence and operational asset of the Command to  the affected areas.

He  also ordered the posting of more personnel and patrol vans for constant visibility patrol in the area.

The bulletin said that students union leaders had earlier speaking, kicked against the violent protest by some erring students of the university.

They applauded the CP for his swift response and for nipping the violent protest in the bud.

The students leaders had earlier presented a letter of request to the Commissioner of Police soliciting more security presence around their communities.