The National Association of Nigerian Students has urged the relevant authorities to take all necessary steps to free abducted secondary school and university students from captivity.
The kidnappers are holding two female students studying microbiology at the Federal University in Gusau, Zamfara, as well as ten additional female secondary school students from the Kachia Local Government Area in Kaduna State.
The request was made in a statement released in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday by Vanessa Kwere, the NANS Zone A’s Deputy Coordinator for Inter-Campus Affairs.
Kwere issued the statement after the NANS delegation met with the management of the university shortly after the union’s zonal convention held in Jigawa recently.
He pointed out that the call became imperative in view of the fact that the abducted students were under the care of the government, hence, they remained the property of the government.
Kwere said, “We were notified of the sad news regarding the abduction of two 200-level female students of the Microbiology Department, Federal University, Gusau.
“It is indeed a heart-touching incident, we had to stop by to pay a solidarity visit, to also sympathise with the institution on this incident.
“We urge the students to remain calm and keep praying for the safe return of their friends and sisters.”
According to him, the union met with the school management, including Prof. Ahmad Galadima, the Acting Vice Chancellor, who is also the current Deputy Vice Chancellor of the university; the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Lawal Sa’ad; the Deputy Dean, Students Affairs, Dr Tagba as well as the Chief Security Officer.
Kwere said during the meeting, they discussed how the incident happened, and the strategies being currently applied by the institution to rescue the abducted students.
“The meeting was presided over by the pioneer Students’ Representative Council and President, FUBK, Usman Ladan-Fakai, and attended by several NANS officials.
“Present at the meeting include Vanessa Kwere, the Deputy Coordinator Inter-Campus Affairs Zone A, Daniyalu Mailafiya, the Director Special Duties NANS Zone A, and several stakeholders from Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara,” he said.
The deputy coordinator noted that the Dean, Student Affairs, had enlightened them on the efforts made by the university to guarantee the safe return of the abducted students.
He said the acting VC also assured them that the university was doing its best to maintain security within the institution, assuring that frantic efforts are being intensified to rescue the abducted students.
In a related development, the union expressed deep concern over the abduction of about 10 female students of Kachia LGA in Kaduna State, who according to a preliminary report, were students of Government Secondary School, Awon.
“It is very disheartening to learn about this incident, despite still worrying about the two 200-level female students of Microbiology Department, FUGUS, abducted at their hall of residence.
“We are in constant turmoil because of these recurring incidents; our governing bodies have failed to protect us from such menace; students no longer feel safe in their institutions or anywhere at all.
“Predicaments like this are what discourage and interfere with the educational process of Nigerian students. Looking at most of these cases, victims always turn out to be females, we’re fragile beings who are abducted, tortured and explored.
“We student representatives demand a serious and immediate intervention from the Federal Government and all relevant security bodies. It is our right to feel safe wherever we are,” he said.
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