Fear Grips Nasarawa Students and Residents Over Bandits' Threat
The Federal University of Lafia management is actively addressing the situation, engaging in meetings to ensure the safety of the community as students are set to resume later this month. The bandits' threat has prompted urgent security meetings, with the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Professor Aleruchi Chukwu, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to enhance peace and security.
Binye-lum 
Residents of Gandu community, housing over 6,000 Federal University of Lafia students, are in a state of confusion and panic following a threatening letter purportedly sent by bandits. The letter indicates a shift in the bandits' approach, with threats to kill their next victims instead of seeking ransom. This comes after a series of kidnappings in the area, including 12 students from the university between October and December 2023.
The Federal University of Lafia management is actively addressing the situation, engaging in meetings to ensure the safety of the community as students are set to resume later this month. The bandits' threat has prompted urgent security meetings, with the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Professor Aleruchi Chukwu, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to enhance peace and security.
During the security meeting, stakeholders discussed the importance of collective responsibility in securing the lives and property of students and residents. The Students Union Government President, Comrade Ibrahim Ogabo Ismaila, stressed the necessity for concrete government action to prevent future kidnappings and enhance security in the area. Local community leaders were urged to be vigilant and cooperate with security agencies to address security threats promptly.
The District Head of Gandu community, Abdullahi Mohammed, expressed concern over the escalating insecurity and called on the state government to intervene urgently by establishing a police post and deploying military personnel to the community.
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In response to the broader security challenges faced by the state, the government has allocated N500 million in the 2024 budget for the supply and installation of electricity equipment and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) in Lafia, the state capital. The initiative aims to improve overall security, considering incidents not only at the Federal University of Lafia but also at the state-owned Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia.
As of now, efforts to obtain a reaction from the Nasarawa State Police Command have been unsuccessful. The situation remains a cause for concern as stakeholders work together to address the prevailing insecurity in the region.
