President Bola Tinubu on Sunday directed security agencies to rescue the remaining female students of the Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, who were recently abducted by terrorists.
Around 3:00 a.m. Friday, armed bandits breached at least three hostels in the school and led away several students, including females.
Friday’s abduction comes only five months after armed persons kidnapped at least two female students of the same university.
Within the same period, over 80 youths who went to the forest to pick firewood were kidnapped in Wanzamai village in Zamfara.
Zamfara has been a hotbed of terror in recent years with the provocative kidnap of 279 female students aged between 10 and 17 during a raid by armed bandits on February 26, 2021, from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe.
The incidents continue despite an existing no-fly zone imposed by former President Muhammadu Buhari over particular volatile areas.
During Friday’s abduction, personnel of the Nigerian army reportedly engaged the terrorists in a shootout and rescued six female students.
However, over 20 students remain in terrorist custody.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Bola Tinubu said, “There is no moral justification for such heinous crimes against innocent victims whose only ‘offence’ was their pursuit of quality education.”
The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu directs security agencies to rescue remaining female students abducted at Federal University, Gusau.’
Condemning the reprehensible act, the President commiserated with all families directly impacted by the sad incident.
He affirmed that his “administration has a solemn duty to protect every Nigerian citizen, and in line with this commitment, assures the families of the abducted students that no effort will be spared in ensuring their safe return.”
Furthermore, the President pledged that the federal government is determined to ensure that educational institutions remain sanctuaries of knowledge, growth, and opportunity and are totally free from the menacing acts of terrorists.
