ATBU Shut Down Following Student’s Death

The authorities and management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, have shut down the University temporarily, over the death of four students which occurred in the late hours of Monday, the 5th of August 2019.

The management confirmed that four students were killed following the collapse of a bridge in the Gubi campus, as a result of torrential rain that threatened to engulf many areas in the state.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Muhammad Abdullazeez, who spoke to journalists at a press conference organised the day after the fatal accident in Bauchi State, said that four students have been killed while seven students were seriously injured.

He noted that while the full details of the incident are still unclear, the management of the university has opted to shut down operations in the university, in honour of the deceased.

“I regret to announce the death of four of our students on Monday, August 5th, 2019. The unfortunate incident that led to the demise of the students occurred late last night (Monday), at the Gubi Campus of the University.

“While full details of the occurrence are being awaited, the University Senate, at an emergency meeting this morning (August 6th, 2019) has decided to close the University in honour of the students. We closed down the school because we are mourning. The reopening date has been fixed for Tuesday, August 19th, 2019,” he announced.

The deceased include three males and one female, while those injured are currently receiving treatment at the University Medical Centre.

Speaking on the cause of the incident, the Vice-Chancellor said: “For now, we learnt that while the students were trying to return to their hostel in the midst of the rain last night, the bridge connecting their reading area and their hostel collapsed and the four students drowned.”

He ended the conference by stating that rescue operations are currently underway to recover bodies of those missing.