ARREST OF PROTESTING BAUCHI POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS; Save-Public- Education -Campaign (SPEC) Condemns Action, Demands Immediate Release Of Students.
Press Statement:
ARREST OF PROTESTING BAUCHI POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS; Save-Public- Education -Campaign (SPEC) Condemns Action, Demands Immediate Release Of Students.
– Campus Take-over by Bandits and Criminal Elements is a shocking abdication of Responsibilities by Authorities.
– Sanctity and Safety of Educational Spaces is non-compromisable Globally, Authorities in Bauchi State must Act now to Protect the Basic Rights of Students as well as Ensure the Safety of Learning Places in the State.
August 13, 2025
The Save Public Education Campaign (SPEC) has received with deep concern and worry, news of the arrest and detention of Students of Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, who were reportedly, peacefully protesting the breakdown of security in the Polytechnic Campus, a situation that has enabled several incidences of brutal Rape and Robbery in the Campus.
Repots indicates that the latest of such attacks again occured on the 11th of August, with bandits invading the Polytechnic campus and carrying out attack on Students with many of the Students sustaining diverse degree of injuries and loosing several valuables; an incident to which they embarked on peaceful protest to demand an end to. The students, were reportedly met with excessive force, including teargas, and the arrest of over 48 protesting Students.
Further reports indicate that these students are being held in very difficult and inhumane conditions as they are reportedly locked alongside hardened criminals, including rapists, kidnappers, bandits, and terrorists.
The Save-Public-Education-Campaign Nigeria, totally condemns this and reiterates the the Right to Peaceful Protest is both Basic and Constitutional and as such such acts of intimidation and aggression by State Authorities against the Students constitute clear violation of their fundamental rights and thus remain unacceptable.
It is our considered view, that this situation would not have arisen in the first place, if the Authorities had taken adequate care and attention to provide necessary security in Campus to safeguard both Teachers, Students and Workers in the Institution. The unnecessary high-handed response By the Bauchi State government to Students justified agitation, not only undermines the rule of law but also exacerbates the insecurity and trauma faced by the Students. The energy and resources the state authorities deployed into these acts of repression could easily have emplaced safety and security in the Campus thereby making the institution a Conducive and Safe Learning Space, in tandem with global best practice.
The Save Public Education Campaign therefore unequivocally demands as follows;
1. The immediate and unconditional release of all arrested students of the Polytechnic.
2. The immediate arrest, public identification, and prosecution of the perpetrators of the robbery and rape incidents in the School.
3. Prompt emplacement of enhanced Security measures to protect students and prevent further attacks by criminal elements on the Campus.
4. To refrain from any further Acts of Students intimidation and repression and take steps to ensure that all barriers that constitute hindrances to conducive Teaching and Learning are duly removed, forthwith.
Signed,
Comrade Vivian Bello
Convener
Comrade Iortyom Ushahemba Moses.
National Secretary,
Save Public Education Campaign, Nigeria (SPEC).