Balewa University shut over death of four students

The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State, has been shut down after four students died as a metallic bridge at the Gubi Campus collapsed during a heavy downpour that lasted for several hours in the State on Monday.

The closure was announced by the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Muhammad Abdulazeez, at a press conference on Tuesday in Bauchi, where he confirmed that four students died and seven others were injured.

According to the VC, the school was shut down in honour of the deceased students, adding that the full details of the incident were still being awaited.

Abdullazeez said: “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

READ ALSO: BAUCHI: Varsity students feared killed in bridge collapse

“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.”

Abdulazeez further disclosed that the deceased comprise of three males and one female.

On the cause of the incident, the Vice Chancellor, said: “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.”

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