Admin
The management of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, has announced an immediate closure of the institution and ordered students to vacate the premises within two hours.
The directive was given on Tuesday in a statement by the institution’s Registrar, Kasimu Salihu, who noted that hoodlums had hijacked a peaceful protest by the students, and the management had shut down the school indefinitely to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
Naija News reports that the students of the Polytechnic had gone on a protest in reaction to an attack by armed robbers who stormed hostels in the school, stealing gadgets and leaving many injured.
The students accused the school management of failing to protect them from the attack that happened at night.
It was reported that the armed robbers stole the students’ property, and nine people were injured.
The angry students blocked the Bauchi–Dass road, mounting a blockade which prevented movement around the institution’s main entrance.
However, the protest, which started peacefully, later turned violent after suspected hoodlums reportedly tried to hijack it.
This led to the Police firing tear gas to disperse the crowd, prompting some students to retaliate with stones before being overpowered.
In his reaction, the school’s SUG President, Haruna Umar, condemned the attack, calling it the first of its kind in the institution’s history.
“This is students showing their grievances to management and authorities,” he said.
The school’s Registrar told newsmen that the management had shut down the school indefinitely to prevent further breakdown of law and order after the protest turned violent.
Salihu explained that unscrupulous elements invaded the male students’ hostel, making away with their belongings and injuring about two students.
“Upon this sad development, students came out of the polytechnic main gate to express their justifiable frustration, calling on the management to act.
“While the management acted immediately, with all principal officers and management staff showing up to address the students and the situation, it has been established that hoodlums who do not mean well to the students and the institution had taken over what was meant to be a peaceful protest.
“Against the background of this ugly situation, the management hereby orders the immediate closure of academic activities. By this order, students are given two hours within which to vacate the polytechnic campus, until further notice,” the Registrar stated.
Police Reaction
The Police Public Relations officer of the Bauchi Police Command, Mohammed Ahmed Wakil, when contacted, told Daily Trust that they are working to restore normalcy and a comprehensive statement would be issued later.
“I’m at the scene, and we are working to restore normalcy. We will issue a full statement on this,” he said.
The post Authorities Shut Down Bauchi Poly As Student Protest Turns Violent appeared first on Naija News.
