Fury boiled over at Federal Polytechnic Bauchi after a brutal overnight robbery left students bloodied and fearful, prompting a massive protest that shut down campus life on Tuesday.

Eyewitnesses say the attackers broke into the male hostel around 2:00 am, violently robbing students at knifepoint and leaving several with stab wounds. The brazen assault ignited widespread anger and fear among the student population.

By dawn, hundreds of angry students had gathered to stage a protest, demanding urgent intervention over what they described as deteriorating security conditions on campus. The protest, which began around 5:30 am, quickly escalated into chaos as students blocked major access roads and lit bonfires, disrupting both academic and commercial activities within the school environment.

Thick smoke from multiple fire points could be seen billowing into the sky as security forces were called in to restore order. Officers from the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies were deployed to prevent further escalation.

In a swift response, the institution’s management issued a statement condemning the violence but acknowledging the legitimacy of the students’ concerns.

“The frustration of the students is understandable and justifiable,” the statement read. “However, what began as a peaceful protest has unfortunately been hijacked by hoodlums with no interest in the welfare of students or the institution.”

Citing safety concerns, the school announced an immediate shutdown of all academic activities, ordering students to vacate the campus within two hours until further notice.

The administration also assured that steps would be taken to review and strengthen campus security.