Spare the University System from the Islamists, Jihadists, Terrorists and killer Fulani herdsmen and Bandits -By Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies

It is a well known fact that the collapse of education, is the indicator of the final collapse of a nation. A university Don, Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies who sometimes in July decried the continuous abduction of students in Nigeria says enough is enough to President Muhammadu Buhari government watching and sparing the Islamists, Jihadists, Terrorists and killer Fulani herdsmen and Bandits invasion, in the education system, especially in the University System to be specific.

Adesanya-Davies who was the Presidential candidate of Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA) in the 2019 election and who received the award of outstanding leadership in 2018 by National Association of Nigerian students (NANS); reacting to what she refers to as series of killings and abductions around the Nigerian ivory towers, the university says, within one week, in the month of November, said Nigerian universities is symbolically now under siege.

We had read the BREAKING news that: “Armed men storm UNIABUJA staff quarters, kidnap six, on 2nd November 2021, “Two professors were among those abducted when armed men on Tuesday morning stormed the Senior Staff Quarters of the University of Abuja at the Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. It was gathered that six people were abducted in the attack which happened around 1am. Those abducted were Prof. Bassey Ubom (including his son and daughter), Prof. Obanza Malam, Sambo Mohammed and Dr. Tobit.”

The university’s spokesman, Habib Yakoob, when contacted confirmed the incidence, of the same information which was shared on the official Facebook page of the University. The information read, “Suspected bandits attacked the staff quarters of the University in the early hours of today. “Our Safety officers, in conjunction with security personnel, mobilised to secure the quarters.”

Again, we would recall that unknown Gunmen in military uniform, invaded Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode, Ogun state, on Oct 28, 2021 and scores of students were reportedly abducted, including the Student Union President SUG. During the invasion, students trying to escape sustained various degrees of injuries. The numbers of abducted students, is yet to be determined as at the time of this report.

As usual, everyone pretended as if nothing serious is happening inspite of the Student Union President SUG, NANS’s involvement. What a shame!

Once they can confidently raid the Universities, before you know it, they will start picking the ministers, senators and governors who are silent and settled now for ransom, one by one, since they can invade the ivory towers. How many of these people can survive the abduction? “If you allow these idiots to do this without being caught, we are in for serious troubles. Are our leaders and elders waiting till we are asked to be paying levies on their heads to the marauders, who roam from place to place, making attacks on our localities and raiding our villages in search of plunder?”, one patriotic and concerned citizen asked.

On 3rd November 2021, it was reported that unknown gunmen suspected to be bandits on Wednesday stormed the Junior Secondary School (JSS) Yebu in Kwali Area Council of Abuja. The Vice Principal, Mohammed Nuhu was kidnapped after the assailants invaded the staff quarters. They fired gunshots into the air, tied the security guard near the gate and ordered everyone to comply. While some surrounded the school, others jumped over the fence and broke into the VP’s apartment.

Stephen Knabayi, Nigeria Union Teachers (NUT) Chairman in the nation’s capital has confirmed the incident. The Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were said to have commenced an investigation. Why are we always at the defensive!

We would recall that on November 2, 2021: “Gunmen attack Ilana Omo Oodua leader Prof. Banji Akintoye’s residence in Ekiti.” Another erudite professor in our nation, Nigeria. The incident occurred 24 hours after gunmen attacked the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) quarters. Also Professor Obansa and his son, Professor Oboscolo, his son, daughters, Sambo Mohammed and Dr Tobins were abducted.

Imagine! Students just graduating, we learnt Bandits pose for photos with Kidnapped corps members before releasing them in another encounter. We read: “Bandits who abducted two corps members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and four other people who were abducted in Zamfara State last week Tuesday and released them after five days have been seen posing for photos with the victims.”

“The bandits had intercepted a Sokoto bound Benue Links bus and abducted some of the passengers, among whom were the two Corps members posted to Kebbi State and four other persons identified as: Joseph Zaaka Aondona, Sedoo Tsokar, Jennifer Awashima Iorliam and Sechivir, Muhammadu Saminu and Muhammadu Safiam.”

Two of the victims, Jennifer Iorliam and Joseph Zakaa, were said to be on their way to the NYSC orientation in Kebbi State, while another victim, Sedoo Tsokar, a student of Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto was returning to school. Serchivir was said to be visiting her relatives in Sokoto. The others are two brothers, Saminu and Safiam Muhammadu.

Interestingly, after the captives were released, photos of them and the bandits surfaced online. This should make Nigerians be shocked and weep about the high level and degeneration of insecurity with impunity; which gave bandits the audacity to pose for photos with their victims and share the photos online. Nothing still gets done about those particular faces by the government!

Rather, amidst all these, Gumi demands amnesty for Bandits,Armed gunmen and Herdsmen on November 2, 2021 in a report by Hammed Tajudeen. Again, we read, “Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has reiterated his call for Bandits and Killer Fulani Herdsmen to be granted amnesty.” The cleric spoke at the enrolment of the third group of students into the free orphans’ healthcare and education support programme organised by the Kawo Islamic Foundation in Kaduna. He urged the Federal government to educate and provide bandits with funds after granting them amnesty.

According to Gumi: “We have met them and they are ready to put down their arms” and Gumi is yet in safety, while Miyetti Allah pleads: *”Declare Bandits Terrorists, Miyetti Allah Pleads* We believe Terrorists are people who try to destroy legitimate activities of society, they are not productive if the FG is serious, they should do the needful and provide a lasting solution to incessant killings by the so-called bandits.” Yet, the federal government remains adamantly unserious about this plead and declation, added, Adesanya-Davies.

Today again, November 14, 2021, we read in a report by Uche Emmanuel that Gunmen kidnap RCCG Pastor, Teacher. “Unknown gunmen have kidnapped a Cross River-based pastor serving with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and a female school teacher. It was revealed that the pastor who identifies as Sunday Adediran was whisked away by gunmen who stormed the Ikot Eneobong community and abducted the two victims.

According to an eyewitness, Mrs Udeme said that the kidnappers gained entrance into the house of the victims after tearing the roof. Another eyewitness, Mr Charles, alleged that the gunmen made away with their victims despite the initial resistance by some residents in the isolated area known for its deplorable road network.

Thus, I write as ” a female school teacher” in my motherly disposition towards the Student community and Society at large. Our educational system is under siege to the University level. It’s time for the federal government to step up in their fight against insurgency, if not they will remember me! Buhari should spare the University System from the Islamists, Jihadists, Terrorists and killer Fulani herdsmen and Bandits, please!

We would recall the NDA Kaduna attack: Nigeria Defence Academy suffer banditry and kidnapping attacks – Profile of di military school – BBC News Pidgin, on 25 08 2021 — Nigeria Defence. The “Attack on NDA demonstrates that, “No where is safe any more in Nigeria, bandits are in total control”, according to — Retd AVM Ararile in Vanguard News.

The Ex-Presidential candidate of Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA) in the 2019 election, Princess Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, who got the endorsement of National Association of Nigerian students (NANS) towards the presidential election in 2019, again warns and admonishes.

REFERENCES

https://punchng.com/updated-armed-men-invade-uniabuja-staff-quarters-abduct-six/
https://newsflashuk.com/bandits-stormed-abuja-school-kidnap-vice-principal/
https://www.expressiveinfo.com/imagine-bandits-pose-for-photos-with-kidnapped-corps-members-before-releasing-them/
https://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/news/just-in-unknown-gunmen-in-military-uniforms-reportedly-storm-tasued-and-abduct-su-president-others
https://newsflashuk.com/photos-sug-president-arrives-campus-with-security-escorts-to-attend-lectures/
https://punchng.com/breaking-gunmen-attack-yoruba-nation-coordinator-akintoyes-residence-in-ado-ekiti/
https://solacewrites.wordpress.com/2021/11/14/iku-baba-yeye-oba-lamidi-adeyemi-111-alafin-oyo-have-spoken-case-closed/
https://www.opinionnigeria.com/islamists-storm-kaduna-baptist-church-kill-two-abduct-several-members-adesanya-davies-laments-again/
https://thenigerialawyer.com/declare-bandits-terrorists-miyetti-allah-pleads/
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/attack-on-nda-no-where-is-safe-any-more-in-nigeria-bandits-are-in-total-control-retd-avm-ararile/
https://punchng.com/breaking-bandits-invade-nda-kill-two-officers-abduct-one/
https://www.newsclickng.com/nigeria-lost-brave-soldiers-buhari-reacts-to-killing-of-army-general-others-during-battle-with-iswap-terrorists/