Katsina varsity suspends 6 students arrested over ‘murder’ of colleague

The management of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma in Katsina has suspended six students over the alleged murder of Abubakar Nasir-Barda, a 200-level student of the institution.

Habib Aminu-Umar, the institution’s spokesperson, announced the students’ suspension in a statement on Sunday.

The suspension followed after the state police command had arrested the suspects in connection with Nasir-Barda’s death.

“The management of the university, on behalf of its senate, staff and students, is deeply saddened, concerned and highly regrets the unfortunate incident involving some of its students,” the statement reads.

“It led to the sudden death of a 200-level Computer Science and Information Technology, from an unfortunate altercation over a female student.

“The university management has been up and doing since the occurrence of the unfortunate incident to ensure justice is served to all.

“The management upon getting wind of the incident swiftly constituted an interim ad-hoc committee to look into the case and feed management on development as they unfold.”

According to Aminu-Umar, a preliminary report submitted to the management on September 30, 2023, by the committee revealed that the incident occurred outside the university’s campus.

“But upon receipt of information, the university’s security were quickly mobilised to the scene for prompt intervention that halted further altercation between the students and apprehension of some students involved,” it added.

“The matter has already been taken over by the police, which led to the arrest of six students that are in connection with the incident as confirmed by the police’s press statement.”

The statement added that the ad-hoc committee’s interim report had equally recommended the university management to invoke Section 5.5(a) of the University Academic Policy by suspending all the six students involved in the matter pending the outcome of the police investigation “which the management has approved by suspending indefinitely all the six students involved”.