IMAP Student’s death: Rector Calls for Calm as SUG, NANS Commend institution’s Efforts

By David Odama

Worried by the growing conflicting social media reports over the death of one Terhile Timothy Achinya, a mechanical engineering student with the state-owned Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic Lafia, the Rector of the institution, Dr.

Dr Nurudeen Mu’azu Maifata while appealing for restraint amongst the students over the demise of the student, described the situation as worrisome adding that the authority of the institution was on top of the matter.

He assured both the students and the polytechnic community that the management was doing everything humanly possible to get to the truth of issue.

“The alleged death of Achinya which sparked outrage with attendance confusion on the social media and threatening the peace and security of the institution must be confronted frontally”, Dr Maifata declared.

Speaking on the matter, the SUG President, Comrade. Jacob John Mutuwa said the situation started when one Samuel Ejembi popularly known as ‘Level’ informed yet-to-be-identified military men that six students including the deceased were allegedly involved in cult activities which led to the soldiers whisking away the six suspected cultist from Eji World, a lodge across the Polytechnic, including Level, the informant, last Friday.

Mutuwa stated further that having allegedly undergone series of interrogations and torture by the military, Achinya died and his corpse was deposited at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia.

According to the SUG President, “the corpse of the deceased student was not taken to any private laboratory or hospital as being speculated in some quarters”.

He commended the management of the Isa Mustapha Agwai particularly the Rector of the institution for all the efforts being deployed to accommodate students on campus from next session, insisting that it will provide hitch-free security and safety of students.

He thanked students for being calm and law-abiding despite the tragic loss, adding that lawyers have been engaged to handle the issue.

In a statement, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has joined voices to call for a prompt action to bring the perpetrators to book.

Coordinator, NANS Zone C, Comr. Daniel Friday Egga, appreciated the action taken by the Management and SUG Leadership of the institution in addressing the matter, calling on the government and well-meaning individuals to join hands in seeking justice for the victim and his family.

The statement alleged that the soldiers were attached to the 123 Special Force Battalion, enjoining military authorities to take immediate action.

In a swift reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Nasarawa State Police Command, DSP Ramhan Nansel, said the command was not aware of the incident but promised to find out and respond accordingly.