ATBU Resolves Campus Mosque Dispute, Revokes Land Allocated To TIMSAN

…DSS Proactive Role commended

By Usman Walin Gungura, Bauchi

The management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, (ATBU) Bauchi, has withdrawn land earlier allocated to the Tijjaniyya Muslim Students Association of Nigeria, TIMSAN and restructured its Islamic leadership to resolve dispute for peace and tranquility in the campus.

The University Director of Information and Public Relations, Mallam Zailani Bappah, informed the decision to journalists during a press briefing at the NUJ conference room Bauçhi on Wednesday, where he announced that the university withdrew the 100ft by 50ft plot earlier allocated to TIMSAN, ATBU Chapter, at the Gubi Campus site.

According to him, the crisis began on Friday, June 26, 2026, when ATBU Chief Imam, Prof. Mansur Isa Yalwa, and his deputy resigned. They cited the university’s approval of land for TIMSAN to build a sect-specific mosque, after a Shura Committee directive barred the group from holding activities in existing university mosque.

The University spokesman explained that the Chief Imam’s pronouncement during Friday prayers went viral across local, national and international platforms, and triggered serious public reactions and significant security concerns beyond the university.

He said as a result of this development the Department of State Services, DSS, Bauchi, convened a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, that includes representatives of ATBU Management, the ATBU Shura Council, the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, MSSN, ATBU Chapter, and JIBWIS/TIMSAN, ATBU Chapter.

The meeting adopted five-points resolution as follows aimed at restoring order, peace and tranquility in the University environment.

That All Islamic sects in the University will perform its religious activities at designated times in the university mosque.

The land allocation to JIBWIS/TIMSAN at Gubi Campus is revoked with immediate effect, while the Shura Council and MSSN leadership will be reconstituted to reflect all Muslim sects on campus.

The university will directly appoint the Chief Imam and his deputies, and ATBU will strictly enforce existing rules guiding religious activities on campus.

Zailani Bappah used the opportunity to commend the proactive role played by the Department of State Security Services (DSS) to end the matter amicably.