‘Bandits didn’t attack our campus’ — UniAbuja dismisses viral video

The management of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has dismissed a viral video claiming bandits attacked the varsity’s campus and injured students.

In the video clip making the rounds on social media, severely injured persons were seen writhing in pain as passers-by tried to provide assistance.

But reacting in a statement to TheCable Lifestyle on Monday, Habib Yakoob, the varsity’s spokesman, described the claim that the incident occurred at the institution as “false”.

“Our attention has been drawn to the viral video of a purported incident at the University of Abuja Main Campus over the weekend,” the statement read.

“In that video of less than 30 seconds is a distressing image of people said to have come under the attack of suspected bandits on campus.

“Let it be stated categorically that no such incident occurred anywhere on the University campus. In any case, a careful view easily reveals that nothing in the video clip itself references the University of Abuja.”

Yakoob said any attempt to link the incident in the video to the varsity is “mischievous and irresponsible”.

“Therefore, this attempt to relate the incident in the video to the University is, to say the least, fraudulent, mischievous, and absolutely irresponsible,” it added.

“Given that our students are preparing hard for their First Semester examination, we see this falsehood as orchestrated to distract them from this important activity.

“The campus is as calm and safe as it has been throughout this session. With the safety measures put in place by the Management of the University, no such incident would have escaped its attention.

“To this end, parents, students and all concerned persons are urged to disregard the said clip which is nothing but the handiwork of mischievous elements who feast on falsehood and blackmail simply to instil fear in the minds of law-abiding people.”

The development comes months after the police command in the federal capital territory (FCT) also quashed a similar rumoured bandits attack in the institution.