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Timothy Achinya, a mechanical engineering student at Isa Mustapha Agwai Lafia Polytechnic, has reportedly been beaten to death by unidentified soldiers, leading to widespread anger among the student body.
The distressing incident has prompted the Acting Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Nurudeen Mu’azu Maifata, to pursue legal action in response to Achinya's untimely death. The tragedy unfolded after another student, Samuel Ejembi, informed military personnel about fellow students allegedly involved in cult activities. Following the report, soldiers apprehended several accused individuals outside Eji World, an entertainment center near the campus.
According to Jacob John Mutuwa, President of the Students Union Government (SUG), both the informant and those accused were detained by military personnel last Friday. Achinya reportedly succumbed to injuries sustained during alleged torture by the soldiers, with his body subsequently transported to the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) in Lafia.
In light of the incident, Mutuwa commended students for maintaining peace despite their grief. He reiterated the importance of legal recourse in seeking justice for Achinya and emphasized the necessity for calm among the student community.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for immediate accountability for the culprits involved in Achinya's death. Comrade Daniel Friday Egga, Coordinator of NANS Zone C, urged the state government and citizens to unite in their pursuit of justice for the deceased and his bereaved family. NANS pointed fingers at personnel from the 123 Special Force Battalion, demanding an urgent response from military authorities.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Nasarawa State Command, DSP Ramhan Nansel, assured the public that an investigation is underway to address the grave matter, pledging to deliver updates as the inquiry progresses.