Parents of Abducted Kaduna Students Protest at N’ Assembly

By Udora Orizu

The parents of abducted College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka in Kaduna State, on Tuesday stormed the National Assembly complex in Abuja demanding the safe return of their children, as well as an end to insecurity in the country.

Bandits dressed in military uniform had on March 11, abducted 39 students of the college in their hostels. Later, the bandits in two batches freed 10 of the students and still kept 29 in captivity.

This is coming as kidnappers of Greenfield University students in the state have threatened to kill the remaining 17 students in captivity if government failed to meet their demands by today, Tuesday, May 4.

The aggrieved parents and the institution’s Students Union members were joined by some activists including Omoyele Sowore and Deji Adeyanju, who earlier gathered at the Unity Fountain from where the protesters marched to the National Assembly complex.

However, the security men manning the main entrance of the National Assembly denied them entrance and they receded to the Unity Fountain.

The protesters chanted songs of solidarity and displayed placards demanding the prompt rescue of the students and accused the state and federal governments of negligence in securing the release of the students.

Some inscription on the placards read ”Education is our right! Safety is our right! Freedom is our right!, Free Afaka 29!”

Speaking at the resumption of plenary, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, directed the Chairmen of House Committees on Defence, Army, Navy and Air Force to step out and address the aggrieved parents.

Returning an hour later, the Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson, was asked by the Speaker to brief the House on what happened.

Responding, Benson said upon getting to the gate of the National Assembly, the protesters had left and they proceeded to Unity Fountain to meet them.

Getting there, he said the aggrieved parents looked oppressed, suppressed and dejected.

Benson said: ”They feel they’ve been abandoned and have not eaten since two days. They don’t have any hope, the only hope they have is on the parliament. They sent us back to you to plead with you that their plight on their missing kids be addressed. They also requested that we speak on behalf of the kids that were kidnapped at the Greenfield University.”

He appealed to the House to look into the matter urgently.

The Speaker, Gbajabiamila, while expressing sadness, said their grievances will be referred to the newly set up ad hoc committee on security to proffer solutions.