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.
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.
