Students of the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi on Tuesday staged a protest over what they described as repeated and violent robbery attacks on their hostels, accusing the institution’s management of failing to address the worsening security situation.
According to eyewitnesses, the latest incident occurred overnight while most students were asleep. Armed robbers reportedly carted away mobile phones, laptops, and other valuables, leaving several students injured.
Speaking to journalists during the protest, some students expressed frustration that despite multiple reports, no tangible action had been taken by the school authorities to improve safety.
“We can’t keep living in fear. Our hostels are no longer safe, and management is doing nothing about it,” one of the protesting students told reporters.
The protest, which began peacefully in the early hours, escalated when suspected hoodlums attempted to hijack the demonstration. The situation turned tense as they blocked the federal highway near the campus.
Police officers deployed to the scene fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. Some students responded by throwing stones, but they were eventually overpowered.
The Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Haruna Umar, condemned both the robberies and the breakdown of order during the protest.
“This is the first time in the history of our institution that something like this has happened,” Umar said. “We are simply expressing our grievances to the management and the authorities. All we want is safety.”
The Bauchi State Police Command had yet to release an official statement at the time of filing this report.
