Bauchi State Police Command has disclosed that the slain 500-level student at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) was stabbed while trying to retrieve his girlfriend’s handbag from some assailants.
Newsdirect had reported that hundreds of students on Monday held a peaceful demonstration to protest the killing of a 500-level student, who was stabbed to death by suspected robbers.
Subsequently, the protest degenerated into breakdown of law and order, a situation that compelled the management of ATBU to close down the institution for a period of one week.
The police in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer SP Ahmed Wakil, said, “On 02/12/2023 some unknown persons, numbers not ascertained, snatched a handbag containing a mobile phone belonging to a lady, one Philomena Ahobee, 28 years, a student at Abubakar Tatari Polytechnic (ATAP)Bauchi, as a result of which her boyfriend Agbaidu Joseph, ‘m’ aged 28yrs of Anguwan Ngas who is a student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, tried to help her to retrieve the handbag containing the phone. The assailant(s) stabbed him on the left-side of his chest with a sharp knife,” the statement read.
“The victim was rushed to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi for treatment but he was certified dead while on admission by a medical doctor.
“While addressing the CP, the leadership of the students union kicked against the violent protest by some erring students of the university. They applauded the CP for his swift response and for nipping it in the bud with the violent protesters.
“The students leaders presented a letter of request to the Commissioner of Police soliciting more security presence around their communities.
“In his response, the Commissioner of Police began by observing a minute of silence in honor of the deceased.
“While accepting the letter, the CP assured them of the deployment of the Intelligence and operational asset of the Command to the affected areas. He also ordered the posting of more personnel and patrol vans for constant visibility patrol in the area.
“The Commissioner of Police, reiterates that the basic obligation of the police is to protect the lives and properties of the citizens, excessive use of force to quench violence is not the only last available option to a police officer in matters of conflict and crisis resolution.
“He said that in the process of policing society, certain “unavoidable problems” come to the fore, saying that even at such, there is a need for utmost demonstration of professionalism.
“Right cannot be fought through violence but by way of reconciliation,” he emphasized.
“While lamenting that it was wrong for the students to have taken laws into their own hands in a matter that only the higher institutions and other relevant stakeholders can adjudicate, thereby creating a vacuum for unscrupulous persons to highjack the protest and turn it into a violent one leading to a confrontation with the school authority.
“The Commissioner of Police further encourages residents of the state to remain law-abiding, be vigilant, and promptly report suspected criminals and their activities to the police as the command is committed to lasting peace.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Auwal Musa Muhammed psc assured that efforts are being intensified to apprehend the culprit(s) that perpetrated the inhumane dastardly act on the deceased and further assured that Justice will be served unfailingly.”
