Students Seek End To Kidnapping, Banditry In Nasarawa Tertiary Institutions

Federal and Nasarawa State governments have been called upon to proffer immediate solution to the incessant cases of kidnapping and other criminal activities across tertiary institutions in the state.

The newly-elected president of the Nasarawa State Students Association, Yunusa Yusuf Baduku, who expressed concern of other members to newsmen in Lafia yesterday, said the kidnapping of students for ransom, especially around off-campus residences has become alarming and needed to be urgently addressed.

He said institutions such as the Federal University of Lafia, the Nasarawa State University, Keffi and Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia have over several months become hubs where kidnappers operated freely without any resistance.

He said the situation worsened between August to December, 2023 as no week passes without such incidents with students and sometimes lecturers as victims of the now lucrative enterprise.

According to him, the anomaly is affecting the students’ academic output as many of them hardly settle down because of the lingering fear the situation has thrown up.

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He, therefore, urged the state and federal governments to find a lasting solution to the problem before it is too late.

Baduku who emerged NASSA president during the 2023/2024 national convention on Saturday, said addressing the security challenges around campuses through collaboration with governments, security agencies and other stakeholders would be one of his key preoccupations as he assumed leadership of the association.

“As the newly elected president of NASSA, I will work closely with the students, security agencies and other stakeholders to see how the challenges can be tackled in tertiary institutions across the state,” he assured.

Earlier, the election committee chairman, Habila Kutsa, while announcing the results, said Yunusa Baduku of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, polled a total of 78 votes to beat his closest rival, Marwan Mohammed Iliya from the Kaduna State University who scored 35 votes, while Hussein Abubakar Eya from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi got 27 votes.