Students of Federal Polytechnic in Bauchi took to the streets on Tuesday to protest the growing trends of armed robbery in Gwallameji, the host community of the institution in Bauchi State.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the protest followed a record of several cases of armed robbery attacks on about 35 different Student Lodges in Gwallameji, located outside the campus of the polytechnic.
Also, a resident was allegedly stabbed by the robbers after collecting his phone and demanding money from him.
A female student of the polytechnic, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said several armed robbers, wielding machets, knives and other dangerous weapons, attacked students in their rooms on different occasions, demanding phones, laptops, money and jewelleries from their victims.
“Infuriated by the poor handling of the security situation in Gwallameji by the community leaders and the Polytechnic management, the students took to the streets blocking the Dass-Bauchi highway and the main gate of the institution,” she said.
Another student, Monday John, said cases of armed robbery in Gwallameji were being facilitated by miscreants suspected to be natives of the community, who allegedly invite criminals from other parts of Bauchi to wreak havoc on students.
He said some of the victims were able to identify their attackers and raised the alarm to security officials for action.
“But oftentimes, when such suspects were arrested, you will later see them again moving freely in the community,” he lamented.
Confirming the incident, Ward Head of Gwallameji, Sanusi Mohammed, said about 50 armed robbers stormed the community burgling students’ lodges at midnight.
He said the latest incident happened a few days after the students resumed from the Eid-el-Kabir holiday, even as he lamented that landlords were not helping the security situation.