The Nigerian Senate on Thursday resolved to summon all the nation’s defence and security chiefs over the rising abduction of university students in different parts of the country, especially in Northwest Nigeria.
This followed a motion by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua (Katsina Central) during plenary, who drew the attention of his colleagues to the kidnapping of five female students of the Federal University in Dutsinma (FUDMA), Katsina in the early hours of Wednesday.
The attack happened 12 days after bandits, in large numbers, forced their way into three hostels of the Federal University Gusau (FUGUS), Zamfara State and abducted 24 students. Sixteen of them were successfully freed 3 days later during the rescue conducted by security agencies.
On Monday, August 21, 2023, eight corps members were also kidnapped by suspected terrorists on their way to camp in Zamfara State.
Senator Yar’Adua said these kidnap incidents have thrown the university and academic communities into a panic mood.
The lawmaker expressed concern that the frequency of kidnapping for ransom has become almost a daily and weekly occurrence in major towns and communities in the Northwest geopolitical zone.
Worried by the increasing rate of student abduction, the Senate resolved to fix a date to invite the nation’s defence and security chiefs to address the lawmakers on the efforts to curb the menace.
It also urged the various security agencies in Nigeria to be more proactive and ensure these kidnapped Students are all released without delay.
The Red Chamber called on the military and other security agencies to conduct a special operation to dislodge the bandits in the Northwest zone.
It directed the Nigeria Police to ensure that the school protection squad demonstrates a clear commitment to protecting school children and provide a safe environment where students and teachers can engage in teaching and learning without the fear of being attacked or kidnapped.
