ATBU shuts campus amid protest over student’s death

The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi has been shut down following a protest by students.

Zailani Bappa, the head of the institution’s directorate of information, announced the development on Monday.

Bappa, who spoke at a news conference in Bauchi, said the school would be closed for one week.

He said the protest followed the alleged murder of one Joseph Baidu, a 500-level student of Geology, outside the campus on Saturday night.

“We are closing down the school because students decided to hold a demonstration while the police were still investigating the matter,” the director said.

“The murder took place outside the campus and the record we have revealed that the student lived outside the university campus, even though he is a final year student.

“The university security must report the issue to the police for proper investigation and this is exactly what happened; so, the police are currently investigating the issue.”

Bappa said the management regrets that the student agitation caused a disorder within the university community.

The director said the university is ready to address the acts of crime among students to guarantee a conducive learning environment.

“With the closure of the school, the students have been directed to vacate all campuses immediately. Any student found on any of the campuses will face the wrath of the law,” he added.