After Student Killing, Niger Govt Boosts Security Around IBBU Lapai

Following the tragic killing of a 300-level student of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, by suspected phone thieves at his off-campus residence, the Niger State Government has announced a series of urgent security reforms to protect students.

At an emergency stakeholders’ meeting in Lapai, Hamidu Mu’azu Jantabo, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, delivered a clear message: student lives matter. He assured the campus community that security around off-campus hostels will be significantly reinforced.

The high-level meeting included representatives from:

• Niger State House of Assembly

• Ministry of Tertiary Education

• Lapai Local Government

• IBBUL Alumni Association

• Students' Union Government (SUG)

• NANISS

• Local security agencies

Key Security Measures Announced:

• Deployment of over 200 trained local vigilantes to monitor student-dense areas

• Establishment of official security checkpoints around off-campus lodges

• Motorcycles and surveillance tools provided to security operatives

• Mandatory ID cards for students to aid identification and patrol efforts

• Audit and closure of unauthorized student hostels, in partnership with the Niger State Urban Development Board (NUDB)

Commissioner Jantabo also warned against protests, reminding students that the revised penal code criminalizes possession of weapons during demonstrations.

“You’re paying up to ₦400,000 for off-campus accommodation with little or no security. That has to change,” Jantabo emphasized, calling out landlords who neglect safety infrastructure.

Prof. Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, Vice Chancellor of IBBU, echoed the government’s message and urged students to stay alert and report any suspicious activity.