Outrage as police arrest 48 Bauchi students protesting campus robberies, rapes

DDM News

(DDM) – The Save Public Education Campaign (SPEC) has condemned the Bauchi State government and the Nigerian Police over the arrest of protesting students from the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, following a violent robbery and assault incident on campus.

In a statement signed by its Convener, Comrade Vivian Bello, and National Secretary, Comrade Iortyom Ushahemba Moses, the group described the arrests as “unjust” and “a flagrant violation of fundamental rights.”

The arrests followed an overnight attack on the male students’ hostel by suspected robbers, during which valuables, including smartphones and laptops, were stolen.

Two students sustained injuries in the raid, which sparked outrage among the student body.

According to Sahara Reporters, the Bauchi State Police Command said it apprehended 48 protesting students and 16 suspected robbers during a joint crackdown.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, said the operation was triggered by intelligence reports of a security breach after hoodlums scaled the school fence.

The Polytechnic’s management responded to the unrest by ordering an immediate shutdown of the institution.

Registrar Kasimu Salihu confirmed that the decision was taken to prevent further violence after the male hostel attack plunged the campus into chaos.

Eyewitnesses reported that on Tuesday morning, students gathered at the school’s main gate demanding swift action from authorities to address rising insecurity.

However, the demonstration turned tense as mobile police officers deployed teargas to disperse the crowd before rounding up dozens of protesters.

SPEC condemned the police response as “dictatorial and illegal”, accusing authorities of targeting victims instead of pursuing perpetrators.

The group said detaining students alongside “hardened criminals, including rapists, kidnappers, and terrorists” was unacceptable and could traumatize young people already reeling from the attack.

The group argued that the government’s action not only undermines the rule of law but also worsens the climate of insecurity affecting students.

In recent years, insecurity on Nigerian campuses has been on the rise, with incidents ranging from cult violence to armed robberies.

Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, like many higher institutions in the country, has faced repeated security breaches, raising questions about the adequacy of campus protection and the responsiveness of authorities.

SPEC has demanded the unconditional release of all detained students, arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the campus raid, and urgent improvements to campus security.

The group also urged civil society, human rights advocates, and the public to rally against what it described as the “criminalization of legitimate student protest”.

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