Breaking: Police Arrest 3 Suspects in Federal Polytechnic Bauchi Hostel Robbery Attack

From Paul Orude Bauchi 

Bauchi State Police Command has arrested three suspected armed robbers in connection with Monday’s attack on the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi student hostels, during which valuables were stolen and several students injured.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of August 12, reportedly began when unidentified hoodlums scaled the institution’s fence and forcefully took students’ phones and laptops. Some students resisted, leading to skirmishes and injuries.

According to a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the command, police received intelligence on the attack at about 4:54 a.m. from the institution’s Chief Security Officer. Officers from E’ Division were dispatched to the scene and evacuated the injured students to the polytechnic clinic for first aid.

However, the situation escalated later in the day when students staged a protest over poor security, inadequate medical facilities, and other welfare concerns. According to police, the protest turned violent, with demonstrators blocking the Bauchi–Tafawa Balewa–Dass highway, burning tyres, hurling stones at commuters, and looting nearby shops.

Reinforcement teams dispersed the crowd using what the command described as “minimal force” and arrested 48 people – 36 male students and 12 female students – alleged to have been directly involved in the unrest. The female detainees have since been released, while police said male students not linked to the violence would be granted bail after profiling.

Wakil explained that gollowing further investigation, operatives led by CSP Yahaya Yunusa, Divisional Police Officer of E’ Division, arrested three alleged perpetrators of the hostel attack.

The suspects are identified as Mnsur Yakubu, 20, aka Chasu, Abbas Auwal, 20, Musa Bala 20), aka Baban Nani, all residents of Lushi community in Bauchi Metropoli 

Wakil said the suspects confessed to conspiring with others, including the following individuals known Kalifa, Daddy, Soja, Baki, Sunusi, Yellow, Mardi, Bello, R-Kelly, Muktazu, Sani, and Aikin Allah, to invade the hostels and rob students at knifepoint.

The command alleged that Bala, an ex-convict recently released after serving a two-year sentence for a similar offence, was invited by “Daddy,” described as the mastermind, to coordinate the operation.

Commissioner of Police Sani-Omolori Aliyu has ordered a discreet investigation into both the robbery and the subsequent student unrest. He warned that while the right to peaceful assembly is respected, it must not be abused to incite violence or disrupt public order.

“The Nigeria Police Force will take decisive action against any group that engages in unlawful demonstrations, assemblies, or gatherings that threaten peace and harmonious coexistence in Bauchi State,” the CP said.