Suspected bandits have attacked an off-campus student hostel of the Federal University, Birnin Kebbi (FUBK), Kebbi State, killing a herder and abducting a final-year student in the early hours of Tuesday.
The university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jamilu Magaji, confirmed the incident, saying the assailants stormed the Istijaba Villa hostel in Unguwar Jeji, Kalgo Local Government Area, at around 3am, catching students off guard as they slept.
Five armed men approached the students who were sleeping outside their rooms, demanding money, but the students explained they had none.
The confrontation escalated as the armed men physically assaulted the students.
However, in the midst of the chaos, a nearby herder, identified as Malam Siddi Hussaini, who had been tending to his cattle, attempted to intervene but was shot dead by the gunmen.
The bandits subsequently abducted Augustine Madubiya, a 400-level student in the Department of Economics, while another student, Collaneous Steven, a 200-level Business Administration undergraduate, narrowly escaped.
The Vice Chancellor of FUBK, Prof. Muhammad Zaiyan-Umar, visited the scene alongside the Divisional Police Officer of Kalgo Division and officials of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The university has communicated the development to the Governor of Kebbi State, Dr. Nasir Idris, through the offices of the Secretary to the State Government and the Director of Security Services, Cabinet Office.
Prof. Zaiyan-Umar expressed the institution’s deep appreciation to members of the local community for their support, while urging for stronger security measures to protect students from future attacks.
“The safety and well-being of our students remains our utmost priority,” the VC assured during his address to the affected students.
