The Save Public Education Campaign (SPEC) has strongly condemned the arrest of 48 Federal Polytechnic Bauchi students who were detained after staging what authorities deemed a violent protest. SPEC has called for the students’ immediate and unconditional release while urging the government to improve campus security and uphold students’ rights.
The students were protesting a reported armed robbery at the male hostel on August 11, during which several students were injured and personal belongings, including mobile devices, were stolen. The protest, which began peacefully, escalated when suspected hoodlums hijacked the demonstration, blocking the Bauchi–Dass highway. Police responded with tear gas and made arrests. The polytechnic was subsequently shut down, and 48 students were detained, along with 16 individuals alleged to be connected to the robbery.
In an earlier statement, SPEC called the incursion by bandits on the campus a shocking abdication of responsibility by authorities. The group demanded accountability and urged the protection of educational spaces, which they described as “non-compromisable globally.”
SPEC noted that the right to peaceful protest is both basic and constitutional, and described the arrest and detention of students alongside hardened criminals as a violation of their fundamental rights. The group maintained that, had adequate security been in place, the incident could have been prevented.
SPEC’s demands include:
1. The immediate and unconditional release of all arrested students.
2. The arrest, public identification, and prosecution of the perpetrators of the robbery and assault.
3. Enhanced security measures to protect students and prevent future criminal incidents on campus.
4. An end to intimidation and repression of students, and remediation of barriers to teaching and learning environments.
As the polytechnic remains closed, stakeholders join in urging the authorities to address the root causes of insecurity, restore safety on campus, and respect students’ rights while ensuring their grievances are addressed responsibly.
