Federal University Lafia Students Protest Over Kidnapping Incidents

Students of the Federal University Lafia (FULafia) took to the streets on Thursday to protest the continuous kidnapping of their peers by unknown gunmen. The protest was sparked by a recent incident where an undisclosed number of students were abducted from an off-campus lodge at Gandu, near FULafia.

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The kidnapping took place on Wednesday when the assailants stormed the residence, shooting into the air and seizing the students. The exact number of students kidnapped is yet to be ascertained.

The protesters, expressing their outrage and concern over the escalating insecurity, held placards bearing inscriptions like ‘Student Lives Matter’ and ‘A cry for one is a cry for all’. They demanded the immediate and unconditional release of their kidnapped peers, whose whereabouts are currently unknown.

The students also called for an end to the persistent insecurity plaguing the university environment, expressing their frustration with the ongoing threats to their safety. They asserted that they have reached a breaking point and can no longer tolerate the prevailing security challenges in the area.

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Josephine, one of the protesters, accused state government officials of ignoring their plight. “This thing is getting worse, everyday. Who knows if they will start entering the school hostels to kidnap students? The so-called Governor knows about it but he kept mute and did nothing, because we’re not his children or family members,” she said.

Another student, Osanga Jacob, accused the Nigerian Police of being complicit in the crime for interrupting their peaceful protest. “If the men of the Nigeria Police can come and start brutalizing us during a peaceful protest, it shows they are greatly involved in these kidnapping cases,” he said.

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In response to the protest, officers of the Nigeria Police were deployed to the university to restore law and order and address the rising concerns of the students and staff.

The Gandu community, which is close to the permanent site of FULafia and houses hundreds of students and staff members, has been a hotspot for such incidents.