Atbu Postpones School Resumption To January 7

The management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, has decided to postpone students' resumption to January 7, 2024, following a distressing incident that unfolded on the campus. The unfortunate incident involved Joseph Agabaidu, a final year Geology student, who, as reported by PUNCH Online, was stabbed by assailants in an attempt to steal his mobile phone. However, the Bauchi State Police Command, in an official statement released on Wednesday through its Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, disclosed a different narrative. According to the police statement, the deceased, Joseph Agabaidu, had bravely attempted to retrieve his girlfriend's bag from some assailants who had snatched it from her. In the ensuing struggle, he was stabbed on the side of his chest. Tragically, Joseph Agabaidu succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention at the ATBU Teaching Hospital. The incident, which occurred as Agabaidu was returning to his lodge situated around the Yelwan Tudu market in the Yelwa area, a suburb of the Bauchi metropolis, on Saturday, sparked widespread outrage among students. The assailants' actions led to a protest, with students gathering in large numbers at the Yelwa campus to express their anger regarding the perceived inadequacy of security measures in and around the campus. Responding to the unrest, the university management, represented by Deputy Registrar Academic, Fatima Abdullahi, issued a statement announcing the immediate closure of the school for an initial one-week period. The statement cited the disruption caused by the protest, attributed to "miscreants," and directed all students to vacate the campus promptly.