The Management of the Federal University Dutsinma, (FUDMA) Katsina State, has shut down the school for one week following protests by students over the killing of one of their colleagues by operatives of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
FUDMA Vice Chancellor, Prof. Armaya’u Bichi, announced the decision of the Senate to close the school in a statement issued in Katsina on Monday. The protest which began on Sunday when the student was shot, continued on Monday.
TheFact Daily reports that a 400-level student of the institution, identified as 25-year-old Saidu Abdulkadir, was shot dead by a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State on Sunday.
Abdulkadir was riding on a commercial motorcycle to Kashe-Naira Quarters with the rider, Abubakar Yusuf, 40, when they were stopped by four CJTF personnel in a Hilux vehicle, but they allegedly failed to comply. One of the CJTF operatives, whose identity is yet to be determined, opened fire on them, inflicting bullet wounds on Abdulkadir’s thigh and hips and Yusuf’s thigh.
Both victims were rushed to General Hospital, Dutsin-Ma, and later referred to Orthopedic Hospital, Katsina, where Abdulkadir succumbed to his injuries at about 3:00 p.m.
The Katsina State Police Command has launched an investigation to arrest the CJTF officer responsible, while security measures have been reinforced in the area to prevent unrest.
Reports also indicate that the university’s Vice-Chancellor met with the students on Sunday, expressing the institution’s deep regret over the incident and assuring them that efforts were being made to ensure justice and hold those responsible accountable.
However, some students argue that this is not the first time members of the CJTF have been involved in such incidents in Dutsinma. They insist that decisive action must be taken to put an end to what they describe as recurring extrajudicial killings in the area.
