PICTURES: Midnight Terror: Gunmen Storm Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Hurl Student from Storey Building

Many students hospitalised with various degrees of injuries 

Students Protest led to school shut down indefinitely 

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Armed Robbers have attack Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, allegedly  throwing a student from storey building, during the robbery, leaving sorrows, tears and blood.

Students of the institution who witnessed  the horror, have recounted how  the armed men invaded their hostel in the early hours of Tuesday, inflicting injuries and carting away valuables.

One of the students, who pleaded anonymity, said the robbers took advantage of the institution’s porous security.

> “They virtually entered the Polytechnic unchallenged. They were well-armed with guns and machetes,” he said.

The attack, which happened around 2 a.m., caught many students off guard.

> “Some of us were asleep, others were awake reading. They beat many students and stole belongings ranging from computers and phones to cash,” the student narrated.

According to eyewitnesses, the robbers also threw a student from a storey building during the assault, leaving him critically injured.

The incident has sparked outrage among students, who say such attacks have become common for those living off-campus.

> “For them to come inside the Polytechnic is such an audacity,” another student lamented.

The injured were taken to the school clinic, while those in critical condition were transferred to hospitals outside the campus.

As news of the robbery spread, students staged a protest, blocking the school gate and demanding improved security.

The Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Comrade Umar, condemned the attack, describing it as “unacceptable” and calling on management to take urgent action to protect students’ lives and property.

Reacting to students attempt to block the Federal road, police used tear gas canisters to forcefully quell the protest and dispersed the students.

The management of the polytechnic promptly announced closing of the school, in a wildly circulated statement online, signed by the registrar,Alh. Kasimu Salihu

“The management of the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi has received the disturbing news of some unscrupulous elements who invaded the male students hostel, making away with their belongings and injuring about two students,” the statement said.

“Consequent upon this sad development, students came out of the Polytechnic Main Gate to express their justifiable frustration, calling on Management to act. 

“Wile Management acted with immediately with all principal officers and management staff showing up to address the students and situation, it has been established that hoodlums who do not mean the students and the institution well had taken over what was meant to 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”

Meanwhile, the police is yet to issue a statement at the time of this report. However, the police public relations officer CSP Mohammed Wakil told journalists that  the police  working closely with the Polytechnic to curtail the issue from escalating.