From Muhammad Ahmadu Saka, in Bauchi
Suspected phone snatchers have cut off two fingers of Maryam Yakeem, a 200-level student of Biology Education, in Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), Gadau in Bauchi State.
The incident occurred in Gadau town, headquarters of Itas Gadau Local Government Area of Bauchi State, outside the varsity campus and the management of the University has moved to protect Staff and students of the university.
The Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed the incident. The Police Public Relations Officer PPRO of the Command, SP Nafiu Habib, told reporters in Bauchi that suspected phone snatchers had inflicted serious injuries on a woman, believed to be a student, while trying to snatch her phone by force.
Nafiu said that efforts have been intensified to track and apprehend the suspects, retrieve the snatched item and prosecute them after thorough investigations.
Some people from the area said that the phone snatchers, numbering four, accosted the woman and demanded for her phone in an aggressive manner.
While trying to escape from the attackers, one of the criminals was said to have drawn his sharp knife and cut off two of her fingers as he forcefully snatched the phone from her.
The assailants also l inflicted deep cuts on her face and a part of her ear was also affected, all in the process of snatching her phone.
Residents of the town have raised concerns over the development calling on security agencies to rise up to the occasion, trace the criminals and get them apprehended without delay.
The residents expressed anger that the criminals have been terrorizing innocent citizens unabated in recent times leading to the people living in fear of attack.
Considering that it is a students town, they demand more security presence in order to protect the residents.
As of the time of filing this report, the woman was receiving medical attention at a facility in the town before possible referral to the Federal Medical Centre in Azare.
Similarly, Mallam Auwal Hassan, the
Public Relations Officer of
Sa’adu Zungur University, Bauchi explained that The Management of the varsity (SAZU) said the recent incident involving one of its students, Maryam Yakeem, a 200-level student of Biology Education, was reportedly attacked by unknown individuals suspected to be phone snatchers.
Awwal in a statement said “The unfortunate incident occurred outside the University environment, contrary to some misleading reports circulating in certain online media platforms suggesting that the attack took place within the University premises.
He said “the University Management wishes to categorically state that this claim is false and does not reflect the reality of the situation”.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Fatimah Tahir, reaffirmed that the University has continued to prioritize the safety and security of its students and staff across its three campuses.
Through sustained collaboration with internal security structures and relevant agencies, the University has recorded significant success, with no reported cases of insecurity within its campuses, Tahir said.
That the Vice-Chancellor had sometime ago paid a courtesy visit to the State Commissioner of Police to further strengthen collaboration and enhance security support for the University community.
In response to the incident, the Chief Security Officer of the University as well as Dean Students Affairs visited the victim at the hospital to ensure she received adequate medical attention.
