By Usman Muhammad Minna
Following the illegal suspension of academic activities of lecturers body, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, by the governing council of Federal Polytechnic Bida,
Rector of the institution, Dr Baba Aliyu Haruna, has mobilised heavily armed security personnel to serve as invigilators of the second semester examinations that kicked off today in the premises of the institution.
The unusual development in Nigeria’s tertiary education system led to the invasion of the peaceful and serene academic community by heavily armed security personnel including military men, mobile police officers and men of the Civil Defence Corps.
The security personnel who were seen in battle ready in the examination halls instilled unusual fear in the students who could not concentrate in the examination because of the fear of the fierce looking uniformed and gun wielding personnel.
The two weeks long examinations according to our findings are going to be invigilated by gun wielding and battle ready soldiers and other security personnel.
It would be recalled that the registrar of the Polytechnic and secretary to council, Hussaini Muhammad Enagi, suspended the union’s activities in the Polytechnic.
The letter which was addressed to the Chairman of the Union, dated September 13th, 2025, titled, ” Suspension of ASUP-BD Activities on Campus”, said, ” in view of the rising tension and prevailing negative security report, the council chairman, on behalf of the Governing Council, has suspended the activities of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Bida (ASUP-BD) chapter, on our campus with immediate effects.
“In view of the above, Management hereby advise all members of the Union to adhere strictly in this directive”, the letter further warned.