ATBU Female Students Protest Insecurity Following Armed Robbery Attack

Female students at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi staged a peaceful protest on Monday in response to an armed robbery incident that occurred in their hostel. 

The students expressed their concerns over safety and demanded enhanced security measures on campus.

The protest followed a reported invasion of the female hostel by armed robbers in the early hours of Sunday, during which valuables, including mobile phones, were stolen. 

The students marched to the university’s Senate Building to voice their grievances.

One victim, Fauziyya Abdullahi, described the incident as traumatic, emphasizing the fear among students regarding potential future attacks. 

“Our main fear is if they come in here and march us out. We do not want to be another Chibok girls,” she stated, calling for immediate action to improve security.

Another student, Rejoice Duke, recounted the harrowing experience, explaining that the attackers entered the hostel around 2 a.m., breaking into multiple rooms and threatening residents. 

“They were asking for your life or your phone, and they managed to take away valuables,” she said.

In response to the incident, the Vice-Chancellor of ATBU, along with university management, visited the scene and characterized the robbery as unfortunate. Zailani Bappah, the Head of the Directorate of Information, assured the students that steps would be taken to bolster security on campus. “The management will now sit and use the information at hand to further improve security surveillance,” he noted.

The Bauchi State Police Command's Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Habib, confirmed that an investigation had been launched. He stated that efforts were underway to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible for the attack as part of the Safe School Initiative.

According to Habib, approximately eight rooms in the female hostel were burglarized, resulting in the theft of around 20 mobile phones of various brands. 

The protest reflects ongoing concerns about safety in educational institutions across Nigeria, particularly following high-profile incidents of violence against students. 

The students’ demands for improved security highlight the urgent need for effective measures to ensure their safety and well-being on campus. 

The university community awaits updates on the police investigation and the administration's response to the students' concerns.