National Issues
FUG Students Abduction: Insecurity Implications And The Need for Their Rescue -By Usman Yakubu Usman
In a bid to avoid more tales of grief and despondency, the federal government of Nigeria and security agencies should redouble their efforts, by applying necessary strategies in order to facilitate the rescue of these latest victims.
In the wake of Friday, 23rd September, 2023, 24 students of the Federal University, Gusau (FUG) were reportedly kidnapped in the school by gunmen. Despite the efforts made by the Nigerian Army to rescue them all, only 6 were reportedly brought back to their parents. Most of them are still languishing at the bandits’ den, waiting for God’s and humans’ intervention.
The horrible event of the Chibok girls in Borno is still painful in the memory, when 200 of them were left to spend seven years in the hands of Boko Haram.
This does not only waste the time of their pursuit of education, but their importance in the society as some of the girls become loose and old, leaving their future turned sterile. Their ambitions faded; for they were left for too long in the hands of the perpetrators. In fact, the centrifugal forces impregnated them and turned them to their wives.
Similarly, this has also been the case on the 19th February, 2018, where 310 Dapchi school girls were kidnapped in Yobe State. They Spent almost a month before they were released, while 6 of them died and one was missing.
The implications of this debacle are many. According to a report by the Daily Trust, a girl was heard on social media through voice notes that her father called her home, ordering her to abandon her quest for university education as a result of the persistent attack by criminals.
Prof. Tukur Muhammad, a publicity Secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) pointed out that, “Another was heard advising intending candidates for admission not to select that particular institution as her first choice.
“This is an absolutely and highly regrettable development to be condemned in all its ramifications”, he reeled out.
It’s unfortunate that schools that were meant to be conducive environments for acquiring knowledge have become places of terror. If schools and education continue to be targets of attack for criminal forces, then innovation that’s trailing development will be substituted for stagnation.
According to SBM Intelligence report, over 1,409 students were abducted in Nigerian schools while Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TCN) rolled out their report in which 2,295 teachers were killed, 19,000 displaced, 1,500 schools and 910 were destroyed.
This violation of human rights is mostly affected in Kastina, Niger, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Kebbi and Zamfara, the most disturbed by criminal forces.
In a bid to avoid more tales of grief and despondency, the federal government of Nigeria and security agencies should redouble their efforts, by applying necessary strategies in order to facilitate the rescue of these latest victims.
To save the lives and futures of the Federal Univerty of Gusau students, in a joint effort, the stakeholders in the country ought not to be silent. They should act fast and support, just like they did when 200 Kankara Boys were abducted in Kastina state.
