VC of UDUS says attack on Prof Zuru in Yola very dehumanizing

BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

The Vice Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Prof Lawal Bilbis, has described the recent attack on Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru in Adamawa State while on national assignment as not only barbaric but very dehumanising.

Prof Bilbis, who wondered why such a rare gentleman whose cherished national and international reputation of uprightness and selfless service to humanity should be assaulted by people who lack morality, further appealed to the Federal Government to ensure that those behind the acts are brought to book.

Giving his position in a statement he personally signed and released in Sokoto, Prof Bilbis said he received “with utmost shock, the horrible news of the gory and horrendous attack unleashed against Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru while on national assignment at Yola, Adamawa State.”

According to Bilbis, the attacked Professor Zuru rose through the ranks to become the 8th Vice Chancellor of UDUS from 2014 to 2019.

While noting that the bizarre attack on the septuagenarian was not only disrespectful and dehumanizing but has also brought untold mental torture and trauma to Professor Zuru and his family, Prof Bilbis stressed that it was an attack on the collective conscience of all right-thinking individuals across the globe.

“In strong, clear, and loud terms, the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto condemns the dreadful attack perpetrated by a certain species of mankind without morality. On behalf of all staff and students of the University, we call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to launch a speedy and incisive investigation with a view to uncovering, apprehending and prosecuting the masterminds and field agents of the dastardly attack within the shortest possible time. We are optimistic that the Federal Government will not allow the incident to wither away with time,” Prof Bilbis advised.

He further submitted that though the attackers might have executed their nefarious agenda, what they have, however, failed to realize is that their actions will never rob Professor Zuru of his hard-earned respect, honour and integrity, adding, ”we hereby wish to identify and commiserate with him and his family in this trying time.

“We join hands in extending our heart-felt sympathies to him and wish him speedy recovery from the injuries sustained in the attack. We also pray to Allah SWT to grant him and his family the fortitude to overcome the inflicted trauma.”