- The Senate summons security chiefs to address the increasing abduction of university students across the country
- The Senate urges security agencies to be proactive in securing the release of kidnapped students and protect schools
The Senate voted on Thursday to summon all security chiefs in response to the increasing abduction of university students nationwide.
During the plenary, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua (Katsina Central) raised the issue of the kidnapping of five female students from the Federal University in Dutsinma (FUDMA) in Katsina in the early hours of Wednesday.
The attack came 12 days after bandits stormed three hostels at the Federal University of Gusau in Zamfara State and abducted 24 students. Sixteen were successfully freed three days later during a security agency-led rescue operation.
On Monday, August 21, 2023, eight corps members were abducted while on their way to camp in Zamfara State by suspected terrorists.
Senator Yar’Adua stated that the kidnapping incidents have frightened the university and academic communities.
The lawmaker expressed concern that kidnappings for ransom have almost become a daily and weekly occurrence in major towns and communities in the North West geopolitical zone.
Concerned about the rising rate of student abduction, the Senate agreed to set a date for security chiefs to address lawmakers about student abduction and efforts to combat the problem.
It also urged Nigeria’s various security agencies to release all kidnapped students as soon as possible proactively.
The Red Chamber requested that the military and other security agencies conduct a special operation to remove the bandits from the Northwest zone.
It directed the Nigeria Police to ensure that the school protection squad shows a clear commitment to protecting school children and providing a safe environment where students and teachers can engage in teaching and learning without fear of being attacked or kidnapped.