Students of the female hostel at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Gubi Campus, Bauchi, were thrown into panic after armed hoodlums reportedly attacked the facility in the early hours of Monday, making away with mobile phones and other valuables.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers struck at about 2 a.m., wielding machetes, knives and other dangerous weapons.
According to her, the assailants broke into more than 10 hostel rooms, threatening occupants before stealing over 50 mobile phones and other personal belongings.
“They injured some of the victims, with one student sustaining serious injuries after refusing to surrender her mobile phone,” she said.
The witness noted that the attack has heightened concerns among students over security at the Gubi campus, pointing out that the institution is bordered by nearby communities and dense vegetation, which she believes makes the area vulnerable to criminal activities, according to Daily Trust.
Confirming the incident, the university’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Zailani Bappa, said the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibrahim Hassan Garba, visited the affected hostel to sympathise with the victims and reassure them of the institution’s commitment to ensuring their safety.
Bappa stated that the university had already intensified collaboration with relevant security agencies to strengthen protection across the campus.
“The incident has been reported to the police. They have deployed personnel to the campus, taken statements from the affected students and commenced investigation,” he said.
The incident has continued to generate widespread reactions within the university community and across social media platforms, where many have called for enhanced security measures around the female hostel and the swift arrest and prosecution of those behind the attack.
Some students have also appealed to the university management to replace the stolen items and increase the number of security personnel at the Gubi campus, located on the outskirts of Bauchi metropolis.
