SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Learn more.

Date of Incident: January 25, 2012

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances | Other

Institution(s):Bayero University Kano

Region & Country:Western Africa | Nigeria

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On January 20, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, zonal coordinator of Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) and a member of the staff of the Bayero University Kano (BUK), was reportedly physically attacked and assaulted by individuals believed to be agents of the state intelligence service. The Chairman of the Bayero University chapter of ASUU, Dr. Mahmud Lawan, released a press statement condemning the attack, and noting that Dr. Bichi and ASUU had been engaged in a constitutionally-protected protest against the removal of a national fuel subsidy.

According to a witness interviewed for SAR, the victim resisted and as a result was assaulted and nearly kidnapped. The BUK branch of ASUU announced it intended to pursue an action in court against the state.

Sources:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201201201682.html
http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php/news-news/10593-asuu-buk-vows-to-pursue-assault-on-university-don