The National Association of Nigerian Students NANS has raised the alarm over the incessant kidnapping of students of tertiary institutions in the country, calling on the Federal Government to tackle the menace which has made campuses unsafe for students.
This is just as the student body appealed to the FG and urged security agents to speed up efforts in rescuing the three female students of the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Benue State, who were abducted on February 25 by suspected kidnappers on the university campus.
Three female engineering students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, were reported to have been abducted while returning from a night study session within the university premises.
A student of the university who witnessed the abduction had disclosed that the abductors emerged from a nearby bush and kidnapped the students.
NANS, however, in a statement by its National Vice President, Inter-Campus Affairs, Akinbodunse Sileola Felicia, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Sunday, said kidnapping of students off and on the campus has become an ugly trend that must be tackled.
She expressed worries that campuses of tertiary institutions that used to be the most secure have now become so porous and attractive grounds for kidnappers to operate.
Akinbodunse said that apart from the psychological and physical trauma the kidnapping of the three students would have on them, their parents and guardians would be in a state of disarray.
She added that if students living on the campus could be exposed to the fangs of kidnappers, students living off the campus would definitely be living in constant fear and panic.
The NANS National Vice President charged the management of the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Markurdi, to go beyond suspending academic activities and beef up internal security on the campus, especially at night when students engage in study activities.
Akinbodunse, who frowned at the slow pace in the rescuing efforts by security agents, declared that failure to swiftly get back the abducted students and nab the culprits, would embolden other criminals to carry out similar nefarious acts.
“NANS is alarmed at the rate at which students are being abducted on campuses of tertiary institutions in the country. This is not only worrisome, but, an ugly trend that needs to be arrested before it spirals out of control.
“The recent abduction of three 100
Level Engineering students of the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Benue State, while returning from night study on the campus is heart-rending. One can imagine the psychological trauma and pains the experience would have on both the parents and the abductees”.
“It is highly unfortunate that campuses of tertiary institutions that used to be most secure, have not become fertile ground where kidnappers operate. While we condemn this act of wickedness and demand the release of the kidnapped students unhurt, we equally urge the Federal Government, Benue State Government and security agencies, to ensure the safe return of these students.
“We commend the management of the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, for suspending academic activities immediately after the abduction. Meanwhile, the management will have to go beyond this and beef security on the campus and its environs to prevent the reoccurrence of the incident.
“As the umbrella body of the Nigerian students, NANS is watching the development and Association will not hesitate to declare a protest across the zones in the country, if the abducted students are not rescued on time”. Akinbodunse submitted in the statement.
