John Shiklam in Kaduna
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned the abduction of some female students of the Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara, describing it as “one abduction far too many.”
In a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna, the forum called on the federal government to ensure that the students are released unharmed.
The students were abducted in the early hours of last Friday at their off-campus hostels in Sabon Gida village, Bungudu Local Government Area of the state.
The ACF in the statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Mohammad-Baba, said the incident has serious implications on the girl-child education.
The statement said although official information about the incident was scanty, “personal testimonies from witnesses to the disturbing incident suggest that the attack was well planned, coordinated and executed by the bandits.”
The statement noted that: “Evidently, female students were specifically targeted, and the bandits were at the crime scene fully prepared.
“Efforts to repel the bandits by the Nigerian Army neither deterred nor stopped the bandits from going off with a yet-to-be fully ascertained number of hapless victims.
“ACF condemns the abductions in the strongest of terms. It is very disconcerting that such a most unfortunate criminal incident is not the first of its kind in memory but it certainly is one abduction far too many to occur in any community in Nigeria, nor elsewhere in the world.”
The forum lamented that “the incident is very worrisome, with very negative implication, especially for the girl-child education.
“A pointer to the unfolding tragedy is in an apparent ‘voice note’ on social media where a girl was heard stating that her father had called her home, ordering that her pursuit of a university degree be abandoned. Another was heard advising intending candidates for admission not to select this particular institution as place of choice.
“This is an absolutely and highly regrettable development to be condemned in all its ramifications.”
