Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, CP Auwal Musa Mohammed, has directed his operatives to swing into action to arrest the killers of the 500-level student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, the late Joseph Agabaidu, who was stabbed to death by his assailants.
The CP gave the directive on Thursday when he received in audience the leadership of the National Association of Bauchi State Students (NUBAS) and the Student Union Government of ATBU, who visited him in his office.
Mohammed explained that a machinery had been put in place to arrest killers of the 500 level Geology student last Saturday.
He said efforts were being intensified to apprehend the culprit (s) that perpetrated the inhumane and dastardly act on the deceased, and further assured that justice will be served unfailingly.
He recalled that Agbaidu was stabbed to death while trying to retrieve his girlfriend’s snatched handbag from robbers, saying the gruesome murder of the 28 years old final year student led to wide protest by students that was quelled by the police.
A press statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Mohammed Ahmed Wakil, stated that the student leaders’ visit was prompted by the incident which occurred on Saturday December 2, 2023.
He explained that some unknown persons, numbers not ascertained, snatched a handbag containing a mobile phone belonging to the girlfriend of the deceased, Philomena Ahobee, a student of Abubakar Tatari Polytechnic (ATAP) Bauchi.
“Her boyfriend Agbaidu Joseph, of Anguwan Ngas, Bauchi, who was a student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, tried to help her to retrieve the handbag containing the phone”, he said.
“The assailant (s) stabbed the victim on the left-side of his chest. He was rushed to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi for treatment but was certified dead while on admission by a medical doctor”.
The leadership of the students union had, while speaking to the Commissioner of Police, kicked against the violent protest by some students of the university and applauded the swift response of police for curtailing the violent protesters, the statement said.
Wakil stated that student leaders presented a letter of request to the Commissioner of Police soliciting more security presence around their communities, and the CP assured them of the deployment of the intelligence and operational aspect of the Command to the affected areas.
According to the PPRO, the CP has ordered the posting of more personnel and patrol vans for constant visibility patrol in the area while efforts were being intensified to apprehend the culprits.
However, following the CP’s directive for the mopping up of criminal elements hibernating around Yelwa Axis, operatives of the Command have arrested five suspected miscreants including an 18 years old girl for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, receiving stolen property, and causing grievous hurt.
