By Sule Aliyu, Bauchi
Students of Federal Polytechnic Bauchi residing in Gwallameji, an off-campus community near the school, took to the streets on Tuesday to protest the alarming surge of armed robberies and rape cases in the area.
A press release by the Bauchi State Police Command says the protest was sparked by an incident where a group of hoodlums trespassed into students housing and robbed one Cletus Chomo, a 50-year-old resident of Sarauniya Lodge. The statement noted that Chomo was reportedly injured during the incident.
Krestnews gathered that the protest followed a record of several cases of armed robbery attacks on about 35 different Student Lodges in Gwallameji, located outside the campus of the polytechnic.
In response, a team of police officers from the ‘E’ Division and tactical units were quickly deployed to the area and managed to bring the situation under control.
“It is important to clarify that one of the victims who was stabbed was promptly taken to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital for medical attention and is currently responding to treatment, contrary to unsubstantiated reports suggesting otherwise,” the statement reads.
The police urged parents and guardians to play a more active role in guiding their children and wards, warning that the command would not tolerate any attempts to disrupt public peace and safety in the state.
A female student of the polytechnic, who spoke to Krestnews on the condition of anonymity, said several armed robbers, wielding machetes, knives and other dangerous weapons, attacked students in their rooms on different occasions, demanding phones, laptops, money and jeweleries from their victims.
“Infuriated by the poor handling of the security situation in Gwallameji by the community leaders and the Polytechnic management, the students took to the streets blocking the Dass-Bauchi highway and the main gate of the institution,” she said.
Confirming the incident, Ward Head of Gwallameji, Sanusi Muhammad, said about 50 armed men stormed the community burgling students’ lodges at midnight.
He said the latest incident happened a few days after the students resumed from the Eid-el-Kabir holiday, even as he lamented that landlords were not helping the security situation.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, Auwal Mohammed, has directed all relevant Area Commanders and Divisional police officers to enhance security measures and apprehend anyone involved in criminal activities.
The police reiterated their commitment to fighting crime and called on citizens to continue supporting their efforts by reporting any suspicious movements to the nearest police station.
The protest by the Gwallameji students highlights the growing concerns over the rise in criminal activities in the area, which has left many residents, particularly the student population, feeling increasingly vulnerable