Zamfara: 21 Female Students Kidnapped, Sparks Public Outcry

Cursory: President Bola Tinubu expressed deep concern over the abduction of 30 students from the Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State, by bandits. As of now, 21 students remain in captivity, seven were rescued, and two escaped. The Zamfara State Police Command has deployed additional tactical teams for search and rescue, and President Tinubu directed security agencies to ensure the safe return of the students. See full details…

President Bola Tinubu expressed strong anger and concern over the abduction of 30 students from the Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State, by bandits. This incident occurred in the early hours of Friday.

As of Sunday, 21 students remained in captivity, while seven had been successfully rescued, and two managed to escape.

In response to the situation, the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Mani Mummuni, visited the university to offer condolences to the affected families and school authorities and called on security agencies to expedite efforts to rescue the kidnapped students.

In a press statement, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, provided assurance that the command was committed to ensuring the rescue of all the abducted students.

He emphasized that the command had deployed an additional tactical team dedicated to search-and-rescue operations.

The police noted that “On September 22, 2023, at about 0250hrs, suspected bandits, riding on about 50 motorcycles, armed with sophisticated weapons invaded three students’ rented apartments in Sabon Gida Village near the Federal University Gusau and kidnapped an unspecified number of students, taking them to an unknown destination.”

The President, in a statement on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, directed security agencies to rescue the abducted students.

“There is no moral justification for such heinous crimes against innocent victims whose only ‘offence’ was their pursuit of quality education,” Tinubu said.

He affirmed that his “administration has a solemn duty to protect every Nigerian citizen, and in line with this commitment, assures the families of the abducted students that no effort will be spared in ensuring their safe return.”

Tinubu emphasized his government’s resolve to maintain educational institutions as safe havens for learning, progress, and prosperity, free from the threats of terrorists.

In addition, the Arewa Consultative Forum strongly denounced the abduction of female students at the university, characterizing it as an excessive and worrisome event with detrimental effects on girls’ education in the region.

“It is with utter consternation that the Arewa Consultative Forum received news about the abduction of mostly female students of the Federal University Gusau from their private hostels at Sabon Gida Village, Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.“

Tinubu emphasized his government’s resolve to maintain educational institutions as safe havens for learning, progress, and prosperity, free from the threats of terrorists.

In addition, the Arewa Consultative Forum strongly denounced the abduction of female students at the university, characterizing it as an excessive and worrisome event with detrimental effects on girls’ education in the region.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on the Federal Government to swiftly overhaul the country’s security structure and devise comprehensive strategies to counter insecurity and related existential risks.

Additionally, Amnesty International has also urged the Federal Government to investigate the security vulnerabilities that have enabled abductions in Zamfara State.

According to Isa Sanusi, the Country Director of Amnesty International in Nigeria, educational institutions should be secure environments where individuals are not forced to make a difficult choice between pursuing their education and ensuring their safety.

Despite the Nigerian authorities’ claims of addressing security issues in Zamfara state, the violent actions of armed individuals paint a different picture.

The attack on the Federal University Gusau and the abduction of students could potentially constitute a war crime and a violation of international humanitarian law.

It also undermines the right to education.”Also, the Coalition of Northern Groups Students’ Wing demanded the immediate establishment of a mini-military barracks at the Federal University Gusau in Zamfara State.

In a statement by its North-West Coordinator, Muhammad Aliyu, the group called on the government to take “immediate and decisive action to ensure the safe release of the abducted students.”

“We demand that the government mobilise all necessary resources and collaborate with relevant security agencies to rescue the abducted students without further delay. Time is of the essence, and every effort must be made to ensure their prompt and safe return,” it said.

The coalition urged the government to establish “a mini military barracks that will provide adequate security cover, 24/7 surveillance for Federal University, Gusau and its host community.”

“We also demand adequate deployment and well-equipped troops to the barracks. Similarly, we request the upgrade of the police and NSCDC outpost to a divisional station with adequate personnel and sophisticated weapons to foil attacks and prevent subsequent Invasion.

“The construction of perimeter fence to protect the university from free invasion and attacks.”

In recent years, Zamfara has been a focal point of terrorist activities, including the highly provocative abduction of 279 female students, aged between 10 and 17, on February 26, 2021, by armed bandits from Government Girls Science Secondary School in Jangebe.

Source: PUNCH

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