IBB University, Police Keep Mum After Security Guard Was Brutally Stabbed To Death On Campus

A security guard employed by a construction company working on projects at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), Niger State, was discovered deceased on the university premises.

According to SaharaReporters, it was reliably gathered that the deceased, Yahaya Alhassan whose dead body was found stabbed to death is an indigene of Lapai community.

According to Aminu Yahaya, the younger brother of the slain Alhassan, his brother’s  remains were evacuated with the university’s ambulance and taken to their house where he was later buried.

The deceased hailed from the 'Emi Shaba', a royal house in Lapai.

A student of the institution, identified only as Haruna told SaharaReporters that when the news broke and members of the university press club went to the school's security unit for more information, they were told that the matter was still being investigated and that they would have nothing to say until the investigation was concluded.

They therefore warned the students to remain silent about the incident.

"I was hoping the school management would take the case seriously and investigate it, but it appears they are unconcerned about the whole situation."

Speaking on behalf of the family, Aminu, the deceased younger brother, recounted the tragic events surrounding his brother's death. "My brother left for work on Friday night and didn’t return alive," Aminu said.

“On Saturday, 25th May 2024, I received a phone call from the person in charge of payments at the place where my brother works as a guard. He was asking about my brother's whereabouts, and I told him that he had not returned from work.

“He then asked me to go to where my brother worked inside IBBUL and see something. Upon reaching, I saw police and many student there. At first, I was afraid, thinking my brother had done something wrong and they were looking for him. But when I got closer to the crowd, I saw my brother's lifeless body on the ground, with a stab wound on his neck.”

Both the police in the local government, the construction company and the university management are not talking about Alhassan’s death.

"The police are not saying anything," Aminu continued, "and the university management team visited our house for a condolence visit once, but nothing more."

Aminu and his late brother and him were the only children of their aged and sick parents. "I would be glad if something could be done to get to the root of who or what led to my brother's death," he said.

Aminu expressed his frustration at the lack of justice. "I don’t have any means of demanding justice for my late brother as I am battling with other challenges in life. My father can't say anything because he is old and sick. I want justice for my late brother."

James, a student at the school, criticised the university's security architecture, claiming that "security guards are only stationed in some places like lecture halls, school gates, hostels and some strategic locations, leaving other locations unattended."

"The university is small in comparison to other institutions, but anyone can enter at any time through the Cheche and other neighboring communities. And places where security guards is not present," James said.

Another resident of the community who is familiar with the university environment said that the recent ugly scenario of someone killed inside the school premises called for a serious security brace up in the university. “You don't expect parents to be comfortable with that”.

He also added that it was high time the university management adopted high-tech security cameras to be able to put the whole school environment into surveillance.

"Let the security guards understand their responsibilities; every nook and cranny of the university should have a security guard attached to it.  As far as I know, if that is done, students' lives and property will be slightly safer”.

Wasiu Abiodun, Niger State's police spokesperson, Professor Adamu Abu Kasim, IBBUL's Vice Chancellor, and Abdulkadir Yerima (as shown by truecaller), IBBUL's Chief Security, did not respond to phone calls and text messages seeking comment.