The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is deeply troubled by the ongoing issue of student abductions in Nigeria, particularly the recent cases involving female students from the Federal University, Gusau in Zamfara State and Government Secondary School, Awon in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
As the apex body of Nigerian students, NANS is appealing to the authorities concerned to use all means necessary to rescue the abducted students and ensure their safe return to their families and communities.
NANS has been closely monitoring the situation and has been actively engaged in efforts to address this alarming trend. Vanessa Kwere, the Deputy Coordinator of Inter-Campus Affairs of NANS Zone A, recently issued a statement after a delegation from NANS met with the management of the Federal University, Gusau.
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Kwere emphasized that the abducted students were under the care of the government, and as such, remained the property of the government. This underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for swift action to ensure their release.
Kwere expressed deep concern over the recurring incidents of female students being kidnapped in different states of Nigeria. He lamented that despite ongoing efforts, students, especially females, no longer feel safe in their institutions or anywhere else.
These incidents disrupt the educational process and have a detrimental impact on the well-being and academic progress of Nigerian students. Kwere emphasized that such predicaments discourage and interfere with the educational aspirations of Nigerian students, who deserve to learn in a safe and secure environment.
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In addition to the appeal for the rescue of the abducted students, NANS called for serious and immediate intervention from the Federal Government and all relevant security bodies to address the security challenges facing Nigerian students.
NANS reiterated that it is the right of every student to feel safe wherever they are, and urged the government to intensify efforts to ensure the security of students in schools and campuses across the country.
During the meeting with the school management of the Federal University, Gusau, NANS discussed the strategies being currently applied by the institution to rescue the abducted students.
The meeting was presided over by Usman Ladan-Fakai, the Pioneer Students’ Representative Council and President of FUBK, and was attended by several NANS officials, including Vanessa Kwere, the Deputy Coordinator of Inter-Campus Affairs Zone A, and Daniyalu Mailafiya, the Director of Special Duties of NANS Zone A, as well as stakeholders from Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states.
The Deputy Coordinator of NANS also highlighted the efforts made by the university to guarantee the safe return of the abducted students, including assurances from Prof. Ahmad Galadima, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, who is also the current Deputy Vice Chancellor, and Prof. Lawal Sa’ad, the Dean of Students Affairs, among others.
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The university has been working tirelessly to maintain security within the institution and has intensified efforts to rescue the abducted students.
NANS further expressed deep concern over the abduction of about 10 female students from Kachia Local Government Area in Kaduna State, who were reportedly students of Government Secondary School, Awon. The association stressed that it is disheartening to learn about these incidents, especially in the midst of the ongoing concerns regarding the safety of the abducted students from the Federal University, Gusau.
NANS reiterated that students, particularly females, are fragile beings who should not be subjected to such traumatic experiences of abduction, torture, and exploitation.
