The Adamawa State University have been
the recipients of written threats directed at the institution, but the
source of the unspecified threats remain a mystery. Yet the threats, rather than being cast
off as a malicious prank, are being taken seriously, as word of the
letters has shaken both the student body and officials at the school.
The atmosphere on campus, and in the surrounding area, can be best
described as tense. Continue to see photo of the letter after cut...
A source has told SaharaReporters that
the letters are believed to be real, with school officials and the
student body suspecting it is coming directly from the Islamist
insurgent group Boko Haram. As word of the letters making
undetermined threats have surfaced, rumours, too, have circulated.
Compounding matters is that school officials have largely remained
silent. Most of the students at Adamawa State University are fearful of
an impending Boko Haram attack. Rumors are being taken seriously.
For example, most of the Adamawa State
University students who use the only hostel available to men have not
slept there over the past weekend. The hostel, also known as ‘Barde Hall,’
according to a SaharaReporters source, was nearly empty of students
beginning on Saturday evening. Barde Hall, is also popularly known as
“256″ by many in the student body. It is a popular ‘hang out’ spot for
many of the students attending. It is also seen as a safe space, and
resting place, that normally has scores of students milling around
outside during the academic year. Many of the students did not sleep, or
‘hang out’ at the hostel on Saturday night. It was ghostly quiet.
A student source told SaharaReporters
that the atmosphere at the hostel worsened on Sunday night. In room A5, a
student confided that, he was the only person that slept the night in
his room. Another student said that many of the
occupants had fled to the nearby town to seek shelter instead, where
they believe it to be a much safer place. Yet, the tension Monday
morning picked-up, when students in Barde Hall awoke and found a letter
placed on a wall that was written in the Hausa language.
The letter, when translated into
English, reads, “Last warning” had a pound of flesh clipped to the
letter. It dripped with blood, and was described as somewhat black in
colour, though looking as if it was not long since this section of human
flesh it was cut off. This caused panic among many of the
students at the hostel. They then openly questioned the efforts of the
university security men, and called them to the hall to remove the
grisly letter. The students denied the letter was written and posted by a
fellow student among them to thge arriving security men. They then
demanded to see the schools’ vice chancellor.
The Adamawa State University Vice
Chancellor is Dr. Alkassum Abba, who arrived shortly afterwards, and
addressed the students in a tense exchange over the letters and this
latest note placed on a wall dripping with blood. Abba was peppered with
many questions from the assembled students about school security. But
to many in attendance Abba’s explanation was neither reassuring, or
satisfying. The Vice Chancellor according to a
SaharaReporter source reportedly insisted that nothing will change with
the school’s academic calendar. Strangely, the students were told that
their exams will be held as earlier scheduled.
As it stands now, many of the Adamawa State University students have
packed their bags, and also, reportedly, packing out of the hostel. The “256″ is in a place many of the
departing students feel is especially vulnerable, in large part because,
physically, it is isolated, and neighbored by bush, with just a few
farms located behind the building. In short, for many it is too easy a
target with a school administration almost detached from their concerns
over whether the threatening letters received are real, or not.
Source: SaharaReporters
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