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By Gabriel Dike
The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has demanded an urgent action by the authorities of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi (JOSTUM) and the Federal Government to rescue the four abducted female students without delay.
CONUA’s position was contained in a statement by its National President, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, that the recent abduction was an indication of a worsening state of insecurity in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
According to him, the union was alarmed and outraged by the abduction of the four female students of JOSTUM, formerly Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State.
Sunmonu said reports indicate that the four female students were waylaid by armed gunmen, while on their way to and from their studies and that the abduction has sparked justifiable protests leading to the closure of the university.
He added: “This heinous act is yet another tragic reminder of the worsening state of insecurity in our higher institutions and the growing threats to the safety of students and staff across the country.
“It is completely unacceptable that universities, meant to be centres of learning, innovation and national development, are increasingly becoming targets for criminal elements, who prey on innocent students.”
He said CONUA condemned the abduction and demanded immediate and decisive action from both the university administration and the government at all levels to ensure the students were rescued.
CONUA called for immediate rescue of the abducted students, adding, “The security agencies must intensify efforts to locate and secure the safe return of the abducted students. Time is of essence, every second counts, and a swift response is non-negotiable.”
The union also called for the strengthening of security on campuses to ensure the safety of staff and students.
Sunmonu charged JOSTUM and other universities to put in place proactive security strategies to prevent further attacks by increasing surveillance, collaboration with security agencies and robust campus security infrastructure.
The union advised the government to prioritise the security of educational institutions, noting, “The increasing attacks on students and academic institutions call for an urgent national policy response that treats education security as a matter of national emergency.
He urged the Federal Government to take concrete steps to ensure that universities are no longer soft targets for criminal elements.
He disclosed that CONUA stands in solidarity with the victims, their families and the entire academic community in Benue State during this trying time.
He appealed to stakeholders, including the federal and state governments, security agencies and university administrations, to take immediate action to bring back the four students and end the persistent assault on education.
