Four students of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU),
Bauchi, have been confirmed dead, seven severely injured and many still missing
as a result of a metal bridge which collapse due to heavy downpour.
Media checks revealed that the bridge linking the classes
with the hostels at the Gubi campus of the university collapsed as a result of last
Monday torrential rain while students were returning to the hostels when some
of them were trapped.
Briefing journalists on the sad incident on Tuesday, the Vice
Chancellor of the University, Professor Ahmad Muhammad Abdulazeez, who was
visibly devastated by the incident, said the school was in mourning "and
the whole school has been closed down for two weeks to honour the students who
lost their lives."
According to him, "I regret to announce the death of
four of our students on August 5, 2019. The unfortunate accident that led to
the demise of the students occurred late last night on 5, August 2019, at Gubi
campus of our University.
"While the full details of the occurrence are awaited,
the University senate, at an emergency meeting this morning August 6, 2019 has
decided to close the University in honor of the students. The reopening date
has been fixed for Tuesday, August 18, 2019".
"For now, we learn that 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 two students drowned".
He said the other seven who were injured in the accident are
currently receiving treatment in the University medical centre.
According to him many were still missing but combined
efforts of security and Fire Service team have been intensified to find those
who were still missing.
Abdulazeez further used the opportunity to commiserate with
the families of the deceased and prayed that "Allah grants the souls of
the departed eternal rest and may Allah also console the entire community of
ATBU on this unfortunate development".
It was gathered that three male and one female were among
those that died.
Earlier, a student of the University posted in his Facebook
account that: "We learnt that there was a sudden disaster which happened
at ATBU, Gubi Campus, which affected many of our students, and there might be
loss of lives. Please let's pray for them, and anyone with relatives, brothers,
sisters should make an enquiry about his or her well-being."
Also, a student who pleaded anonymity told journalists that
the disaster affected many students, though the number of casualty was not
confirmed.
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