Yobe college students protest bandits’ attack, block highway

Students of College of Education Gashua, in Yobe state have blocked Nguru/Gashua highway in protest of bandits’ attack on their colleagues who stay at an off-campus hostel in Zangon Kanwa area.

The protesting students want government to provide security in their off-campus hostels and arrest the bandits that stabbed three of their colleagues with dangerous weapons and stole their properties.

The protesters blocked the exit and entrance of the highway holding travellers ransom for hours, Daily Trust reports.

Narrating the incident, one of the students, Muhammad Imran, said bandits sneaked into the students’ off-campus hostel around 2:30am to steal.

“One of the three students woke off and saw the bandit packing their handsets, laptop and garments, he rushed and grabbed him shouting for help, not knowing that the bandit had knife, then he stabbed him (the student) and escaped.

“The other two students started chasing him but the other bandits waiting outside rain bow and arrows on them, and inflicted deep machete cut on one of the boys’ head,” he narrated.

A source from a hospital where the attacked students were taken for treatment said, “Two of the students were critically injured, while the other one has responded to treatment”.

A staff in the college, who pleaded anonymity, blamed the school for all the unfortunate conditions that the students found themselves.

He said the school has a population of over 15,000 students but they only have three hostels accommodation for male students and four for the female students.

“The school was a glorified secondary school built in 1973 and since then not a single hostel was added despite rapid population explosion. From 500 students to over 15,000 now,” he revealed.

The provost of the college, Dr Muhammad Gishiwa, who was said to be in a meeting, did not respond to phone calls made to his line by our reporter.

However, an internal circular signed by the provost read that following the outcome of the Monday April 8, 2019 management meeting, they have decided that all NCE 1, 2 and Pre-NCE students should vacate the school premises within two hours.

The internal circular read in part that: “Following the unfortunate situation during which Fulani men attacked two students with knife and bows and arrows in Zango resulting into serious injury to the students.

“The reaction of other students went out of hand resulting into destruction of government property and further threat to lives and property.

“As a result of that, the management sat on Monday, April 8, 2019 and decide as follows: All NCE 1,2 and free NCE Students vacate the school premises within two hours,” it stated.