Following the death of four students of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State, and the anger displayed by students pointing accusing fingers in the direction of the management of the school for its negligence, the school has been shut down.
But the school says the closure is in honour of the dead students.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari deeply commiserates with the families of the students who lost their lives following the collapse of a bridge at its Gubi Campus after a downpour on Monday night.
The President, who describes the incident as “tragic, sad and unfortunate,” also condoles with the management, staff and students of the university, a statement from his office said.
Calling on university authorities to prioritise the safety of students under their care, President Buhari regrets that “these future leaders and potential family benefactors met such an untimely end.”
He prays Almighty God to console the bereaved families and university community, and grant speedy healing to the injured students, and rest to the souls of the departed.
Reports said the tragedy followed a heavy downpour in the state which lasted for several hours.
The Vice Chancellor, Muhammad Abdullazeez, disclosed that four students died while seven students were injured.
“I regret to announce the death of four of our students on 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.”
“For now, we learnt that while the students were trying to return to their hostel in the midst of the rain last night, the connecting bridge between their reading area and their hostel collapsed and the four students drowned.”
Bit Student Union officials were angry that the school did not deem it fit to fix the bridge until the tragedy occurred. They claim to have done remedial works in the past.
