The Take It Back Movement has intervened to secure the release of two students from the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State, who were remanded at the Area Command Detention Facility over controversial theft allegations.
The students, Raphael Bolade, a National Diploma 1 (ND I) student from the Science Laboratory Technology Department, and Fatia, were arraigned at Magistrate Court 2 in Bida on charges tied to alleged theft of items valued at ₦600,000.
The charges stemmed from a dispute involving another student, Victor, who initially absolved the accused before his father escalated the matter by involving the police.
The case has sparked widespread concerns about police misconduct, due process violations, and the erosion of student rights on campus.
A family source revealed to SaharaReporters that the students were arraigned without their legal counsel, Barrister S.M. Oyeghe, present, and were denied adequate legal representation during their first appearance in court.
Each student’s bail was set at ₦200,000, which critics argue was intended to intimidate and suppress student activism within the institution.
Following an outcry from the families and civil rights observers, the Take It Back Movement stepped in. Comrade Muhammed Audu, the Movement’s Coordinator in Niger State, played a pivotal role in securing the students’ temporary freedom.
In an interview, Comrade Audu confirmed that he stood as surety for both students and made the necessary arrangements to ensure their release.
“They’re already charged on a Police First Report (F.R) in Magistrate Court 2 in Bida. I stood as their surety on a bond of ₦200,000. I also gave the court registrar ₦7,000, the prosecutor ₦10,000, and the prison warden ₦15,000 for transportation to facilitate their release from the prison,” Audu stated.
“The case has been adjourned to June 24, 2025, for hearing. I’m on my way back to Minna after ensuring their release from prison through the court today.”
Family members had earlier raised the alarm about what they described as the unlawful detention of their children since Wednesday, calling into question the integrity of the police investigation.
According to reports, the police used an unauthorized intermediary to demand a ₦150,000 informal bail and pressured the students into signing an agreement to replace the allegedly stolen items, including a laptop, jambox, power bank, and phone, despite the lack of evidence and the complainant’s original statement of exoneration.
The Take It Back Movement has vowed to closely monitor the case, ensure the students receive fair legal representation, and hold all responsible parties accountable for any misconduct.
“We will ensure that we closely monitor the legal process, push for a thorough investigation, and make sure the rights of these students are fully safeguarded,” Comrade Audu added.
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