Students of the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi and residents of Gwallameji area protested on Tuesday, blocking a federal highway in response to frequent armed robberies and sexual assaults on female students.
The protesters set fire to old tires and other items, obstructing traffic on the busy Bauchi-Tafawa Balewa Road, and paralysing commercial activities for several hours.
Police eventually dispersed the crowd using teargas canisters.
A student, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Daily Trust that the protests were sparked by repeated attacks on students’ lodges, where occupants, especially female students, were frequently assaulted and robbed. “The police fired teargas at us, which only made us angrier,” the student said.
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The latest attack occurred early Tuesday morning when around 40 to 50 armed robbers stormed the students’ village, targeting multiple lodges, Daily Trust learnt.
The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the protest in a statement signed by the Command Public Relations Officer, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil.
He stated that students blocked the highway due to an attack by hoodlums who robbed and injured a resident, Cletus Chomo, aged 50, of Sarauniya Lodge, Gwallameji.
Wakil added that police teams were swiftly mobilised to control the situation and that one victim who was stabbed was taken to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital and is responding to treatment.
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