Bauchi, Nigeria – August 13, 2025
Tension gripped the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, on Tuesday following a violent protest by students over an overnight armed robbery attack at the male hostel. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, August 11, left several students injured and valuables including mobile phones stolen.
Students took to the main gate of the institution and blocked the Bauchi–Dass highway, accusing authorities of failing to address recurring security lapses on campus. The demonstration disrupted traffic and drew the intervention of the Bauchi State Police Command, which deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ahmed Wakil, confirmed that 48 students, 36 males and 12 females, were arrested during the protest. He added that three named suspects linked to the robbery, along with up to 16 other alleged robbers, were also taken into custody. Wakil stated that female detainees have been ordered released, while male students are undergoing screening to determine culpability.
The institution’s management announced an indefinite closure of the school, directing all students to vacate the campus within two hours “to restore normalcy and ensure safety.”
The Youth Arise Movement condemned the arrests, describing them as a violation of the students’ rights, and demanded their immediate and unconditional release, the dropping of all charges, and a public apology from authorities.
Police maintain that the arrests were necessary to address a “security breach” during the protest and to prevent further escalation.
