The presidential candidate representing the Labour Party in the February 25th election, Peter Obi, has strongly condemned the kidnapping of several female students from Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State.
Having served as Anambra’s former governor, Obi additionally described the attack as a peril to the country’s education system, and he called upon the Federal Government to prevent bandits from destroying the nation.
This was shared by him on Tuesday through his X handle.
President Bola Tinubu didn’t hold back his anger on Sunday as he condemned the abduction of 30 students from the Federal University in Gusau, Zamfara State, by bandits in the early hours of Friday.
In a show of support for the affected families and the school authorities, Deputy Governor Mani Mummuni of Zamfara State, who was at the university, implored security agencies to expedite the safe rescue of the abducted students.
Read also: Why Nigeria Is Struggling To Combat Insecurity – Peter Obi
Through a press statement, Yazid Abubakar, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, conveyed a firm commitment to securing the rescue of every kidnapped student.
‘The report of the unfortunate abduction of some female students of the Federal University of Gusau from their hostels at Sabon-Gida community in the Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State is very disturbing.’
‘This act remains condemnable, and the incident brings to bear once again, the national challenge of insecurity which has continued to threaten our national peace and development. While I commend the security agencies for rescuing some of the abducted students already.’
‘I urge them to make more stringent efforts to ensure that the remaining students are rescued unhurt. This, and many other attacks on students, is an attack on education in a country where over 18 million out-of-school children are already roaming the streets,’ part of his post read.
He went on to say that an attack of this nature would harm the education system and might lead to an increased number of students discontinuing their education.
‘The government, therefore, owes the nation a duty to deliver its primary duty of securing lives and properties, which is the first step towards national development,x he noted.
While sympathising with the victims of the regrettable incident, Obi offered earnest prayers for their rescue and reuniting with their families and loved ones.
‘We must as a nation resist any attempt to allow criminals to make the rules by which we live as a national community. And we should not allow bandits and criminals to destroy our nation.’
‘Combating insecurity remains the priority in the New Nigeria of my dream because I strongly believe that a safe and secure Nigeria is indeed possible,’ he said.