Bandits: 13 Zamfara undergraduates, corpers spend Christmas in bandits’ den
As the world celebrates Christmas Day today, 11 out of the 24 students of the Federal University Gusau in Zamfara State, who were kidnapped by bandits on September 20, remain in captivity.
Also, two corps members who were kidnapped on August 29, 2023, on their way to the National Youth Service Corps Permanent Orientation Camp in Sokoto have yet to regain freedom. They have spent 128 days in captivity.
The PUNCH reports that bandits, in large numbers, on September 20, 2023, invaded the off-campus hostels of the FUGUS in Sabon-Gida village very close to the university and abducted 24 female students.
The marauding bandits, who invaded the community around 3 am, shooting indiscriminately, whisked the varsity students into the forest.
Despite being engaged in a duel by the military, which responded to a distress call, the bandits succeeded in abducting 24 students.
However, a combined team of the army and other security agents pursued the bandits in the forest in two separate operations and were able to rescue 13 students three days after the incident.
At the time of filing this report, the remaining 11 students, who are all females, are still in captivity and there is every possibility that they will spend their Christmas Day in the forest.
Last week during the school’s matriculation of new students, the vice chancellor, Prof. Muazu Abubakar, prayed for the quick release of the students still being held by bandits.
The vice chancellor advised the new students to be extra vigilant and security conscious as they go about their daily activities.
He said, “I am calling on all the students to be extra vigilant and security conscious as you go about your daily activities. Kindly report any suspicious movement of persons or groups to the nearest security agents or appropriate university authorities.
“And to our abducted students, I want to assure them that they are always in our hearts and we are always praying for their safety and quick release.”
In an effort to draw the attention of the relevant authorities, the parents of the abducted students staged a peaceful demonstration at the Gusau Government House gate, demanding the release of their children abducted by bandits almost four months ago.
The parents, who came from various states of the federation, blocked the Government House main gate, in a bid to draw the attention of both the federal and Zamfara State governments to their plight.
One of the protesters, who gave his name as Yakubu Mohammed, said he came all the way from Abuja to join the protest because both the state and the Federal Government had failed to rescue their children.
He said, “My daughter, Naziratu Mohammed, is among the students of the Federal University Gusau who were abducted in their hostel almost four months ago.
We have followed all necessary steps to get our children rescued but unfortunately there is no positive result.”
Another parent, Bashir Yakubu, said since the students were abducted, there were no concrete steps taken by the authorities to ensure their release.
Yakubu, who came from Suleija in Niger State, said his daughter Umaima Mohammed Bashir was among the abductees.
He said, “We complained to the Vice Chancellor who told us that there was nothing the University could do.”
Responding to the appeals by the parents of the abducted students, the vice chancellor said the school authorities were doing their best to rescue the abducted students.
He said, “We met with the parents of the abducted students to console them on this sad development. We also contacted all the relevant authorities and we have since embarked on prayers for the release of the students as there is nothing we can do apart from this.”
Reacting to the demonstration by the parents, the Zamfara State Commissioner for Information, Munnir Haidara, told The PUNCH that the state government, under the leadership of Governor Dauda Lawal, was doing its best to tackle insecurity.
“Necessary measures are currently being taken by the state government to rescue the abducted students. It is not proper for me to disclose the issue to the media. The state government is quite aware of the traumatic situation for both the parents and the abducted students.
“I want to sympathise with the students and their parents over this sad incident but I am assuring them that something is being done to get the students rescued by the grace of God.”
Also, The PUNCH reports that gunmen kidnapped the eight prospective corps members in Zamfara, while they were on their way from Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, to the NYSC Orientation Camp in Sokoto. While six of the corps members have so far been released – three on the 18th of September, one on the 22nd of October, and two others on the 8th of December – two of the corps members remain in captivity to this day.
In the past eight years, records show that a total of 61 corps members have been kidnapped, with 18 of those occurring between March 2022 and August 2023.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, has repeatedly stated that one of his five-point policy thrusts was to “improve the security and welfare of corps members and staff”.
As of the time of filing this report, the NYSC had yet to make any statements detailing any attempts to rescue the rest of the abducted corps members on or before the New Year.
Efforts to get comments from the NYSC spokesperson, Eddy Megwa, on progress made so far, proved abortive on Sunday, as he told our correspondent to visit the office to make any inquiries regarding the issue.
