The Senate has urgently called for the rescue of the abducted female students of the Federal University in Gusau, Zamfara, by yet-to-be-identified bandits.
NAN reports that the police stated that on Friday, at about 02:50 hrs, suspected bandits, riding about 50 motorcycles and armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded three students’ rented apartments in Sabon Gida Village near the Federal University of Gusau, kidnapping an unspecified number of students.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Army, Sen. Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
He emphasised that rescuing the innocent female students from the captivity of the bandits must be the topmost priority of the country now.
Yar’Adua decried the scourge of banditry and insurgency by criminal elements in the country, with the attendant abduction of law-abiding citizens being a serious dent in the image of the country and the collective conscience of Nigerians.
“This is a moment that demands swift and decisive action. We cannot underestimate the trauma and anguish that these young girls and their families are experiencing right now. It is our duty as leaders to prioritise their safety and well-being above all else,” he said.
He further mentioned that the Nigerian Army and other security agencies must be well-equipped and positioned to stop the menace that is already threatening the nation’s unity, peace, and progress.
“The recent kidnapping of more than 24 innocent school students of the Federal University of Gusau, Nigeria, particularly the young girls, is not just another unfortunate incident but a clear indication that the insecurity plaguing our country has reached alarming levels.
“We can no longer stand idle and allow our nation’s future to be continually threatened. I call upon all stakeholders in government, from the executive to the legislative and the judiciary, to immediately divert our attention to this heinous attack and ensure the safe rescue of our young daughters.
“Furthermore, let us use this unfortunate incident as a wake-up call; the Nigerian government must intensify its efforts in curbing the escalating insecurity that has permeated our land.
“We cannot continue to allow bandits, insurgents, and criminal elements to terrorise our communities, disrupt the education of our children, and instil fear in the hearts of law-abiding citizens
