On Monday, students rampaged through the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University’s Yelwa Campus in Bauchi State to vent their rage over the reported attack of Dr. Ibrahim Inuwa, the chairperson of the academic staff union, by some military personnel.
According to information obtained by The PUNCH, the incident happened when a convoy of two military vehicles attempted to enter the campus, but were halted by security since their cars had tinted windows.
It was discovered that the ASUU Chairperson arrived at the gate and attempted to find out what was going on while the security staff were still trailing behind the military guys. As a result, the troops are accused of slapping him.
Numerous students were yelling and demanding the release of the five soldiers who had been brought to the institution’s security office when our reporter arrived on campus at 10:15 p.m. on Monday so they could exact revenge for what had been done to the ASUU head.
The students barricaded and closed the two main entrances to the university, preventing vehicles from entering and forcing those leaving to turn around.
The school’s security squad, affectionately known as “Baba Blue,” stopped the kids from entering the security office where the troops were brought.
Inuwa described the event to our security office correspondent when he was on his way home. He claimed to have witnessed the troops intimidating the security guard who was on duty at the entrance.
He said that as he parked his car and approached to inquire about the situation, the soldiers began verbally abusing him. He also claimed that one of them suddenly dove down on him and slapped him.
Inuwa stated, “Just today (Monday) night, a little after 8 pm, I was leaving the campus when I spotted a convoy of two automobiles. They were engaged in an argument and were berating the security guard on duty. The majority of the security personnel were at the moment worshipping outside the gate in a mosque. As the union head, I am responsible for it, therefore I had to quit.After I informed them of the restrictions in place at this university, they immediately began pushing me. One of them even went so far as to smack me three times in quick succession. I pointed out to them that what they had done was improper and warned them that they would regret it.
Even the marks left by the smacks on my face are visible.
“They claimed to be military men, but it was difficult to get their contact information. They pushed their way inside the university while wearing the mufti.
In a separate interview with our correspondent, the National Internal Auditor of ASUU, Adamu Babayo, denounced the troops’ actions and said that the students may have been lynched if not for the fast action of the school’s security and a few instructors.
AtBU Branch chair and former ASUU member Babayo said, “We want to know them (the military personnel), but their superiors are guarding them and arguing that we should set them free. Just like they do in the military, we also have our own set of regulations. Therefore, we are informing them that we will handle this situation according to our own regulations.
