Authorities shut down Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University after the collapse of a campus bridge killed four learners

The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University management has verified that four of its learners have been killed after the collapse of a Gubi campus bridge.

The event resulted from a severe downpour in the state that lasted several hours. Muhammad Abdullazeez, Vice Chancellor, who spoke to reporters at a press conference in Bauchi State on Tuesday, August 6, said four students were murdered while seven students were wounded.

He said full details of the incident were still awaited, but he said the school was closed in honor of the deceased.

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. 

“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.”

He said three males and one woman were the dead. The Vice Chancellor, who was accompanied by top management employees to the press conference, spoke about the cause of the incident.“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.”

Abdullazeez said that at the University Medical Center the injured are presently receiving treatment. He said rescue activities are presently underway to retrieve missing bodies.