A lecturer at the Kano State Polytechnic was attacked in his office by a female student and her boyfriend on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, in a violent altercation over academic issues. The disturbing incident, which occurred in broad daylight, left the lecturer with injuries and sparked a security crisis at the institution.
According to Auwal Ismail Bagwai, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, the assault took place around 2 pm when Dr. Aliyu Hamza Abdullahi, an exam officer in the institution’s department, was attending to students in his office. What initially seemed like an ordinary academic discussion quickly escalated into violence when a female student, who had been struggling to change her department, barged into the office with her boyfriend. She reportedly viewed Abdullahi as the obstacle in her path to academic success, after being informed that her grades were insufficient to qualify for a transfer.
“The female student had tried to change her department but was told that her academic performance did not meet the requirements for the new course she wanted to pursue. Upset that her ambitions were not fulfilled, she brought her boyfriend to confront the lecturer,” Bagwai explained.
What followed was a shocking turn of events. The situation grew increasingly tense, and soon the boyfriend of the agitated student pulled out a cutlass and aimed it at the lecturer’s head. “He threatened to harm the lecturer with the machete,” Bagwai continued. “Luckily, the prompt intervention of nearby students and staff prevented what could have been a fatal situation.”
Although Dr. Abdullahi was able to raise his hands in defence, he sustained injuries. Reports indicate that his hands were slashed as he attempted to protect himself. Other students who were present rushed to his aid, forcing the attackers to flee before they could cause further harm.
“I am thankful that other students in my office acted quickly,” Dr. Abdullahi shared from his hospital bed, visibly shaken by the harrowing incident. “It was an overwhelming moment. I never imagined that a routine day at the office would turn into something so violent.”
The lecturer was immediately rushed to an undisclosed hospital in the state for medical treatment, and though his injuries are not life-threatening, he is said to be in stable condition.
Security personnel at the institution were alerted to the attack and launched an investigation into the matter. However, the trouble didn’t end there. Bagwai disclosed that when security officers went to the Dorayi area of Kano State—where the student and her boyfriend reportedly live—they were met with hostility from a group of armed individuals who allegedly assaulted them. “Our security officers encountered resistance when they went to apprehend the assailants at their residence. We are deeply concerned that the matter is escalating,” Bagwai stated.
To date, the student and her boyfriend remain at large, evading arrest despite efforts by local authorities. However, security agencies have assured the public that they are intensifying their efforts to track down the culprits and bring them to justice.
“We are actively working with law enforcement agencies to ensure the perpetrators are apprehended and held accountable for their violent actions,” Bagwai emphasized.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the Kano Polytechnic community, raising serious concerns over the safety of academic staff and students on campus. Many have criticized the rising trend of violence in Nigerian educational institutions, with students becoming increasingly aggressive when their academic requests are denied.
This incident adds to a troubling history of violence in Nigerian schools. Earlier incidents in other parts of the country have highlighted how grievances—often academic—have led to confrontations, questioning the state of discipline and respect in the country’s universities and polytechnics.
Educational experts have called for stricter measures to safeguard institutions and support staff in managing increasingly volatile academic disputes. “This act of aggression against a lecturer is a grim reminder of how important it is to reinforce security protocols in educational institutions,” noted Dr. Sarah Mohammed, an academic who specializes in conflict resolution in Nigerian schools.
It is expected that the authorities at Kano State Polytechnic will review their security procedures to prevent such attacks from happening again, and stricter measures may be enforced in the future.
