Students of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBUL), Lapai, Niger State, on Monday barricaded the Agaie–Lapai Road in protest over the killing of a fellow student, Abdulwahab Jafar, by suspected armed robbers.
The protest followed the murder of Jafar, a 200-level student of Science Education (Chemistry), who was attacked in the early hours of Monday at his off-campus hostel, Nda Kitabu Lodge, located opposite the university’s second gate.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the incident occurred shortly after Jafar returned to campus on Sunday, June 22.
The assailants reportedly stormed the lodge around 2:30 a.m. and stabbed him in the neck. He was rushed to the General Hospital in Lapai where he was confirmed dead.
The development triggered outrage among students who took to the streets, blocking major roads and demanding an end to criminal attacks in the university community.
As the protest escalated, the university management reportedly shut down the institution with immediate effect. Students were instructed to vacate their hostels and await further instructions.
During the protest, the Founder of Lapai TV, an online broadcaster, was reportedly assaulted by some aggrieved protesters near the campus gate.
Confirming the incident to SaharaReporters, the Police Public Relations Officer in Niger State, Wasiu Abiodun, said the command received information around 3:00 a.m. that suspected robbers had attacked a student lodge at the Ndakitabu area in Lapai.
“Unfortunately, one Jafar was stabbed in the neck and he was rushed to General Hospital Lapai where he was later confirmed dead,” Abiodun said.
“As a result of this, some students barricaded Agaie-Lapai Road, protesting against this incident. However, tactical teams of the Command have been dispatched to Lapai to ensure that normalcy is restored. The Commissioner of Police has directed that the perpetrators of this heinous crime must be arrested and brought to book.”
