Outrage as Gunmen Abduct Four Female Students in Benue University

Outrage as Gunmen Abduct Four Female Students in Benue University

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to take immediate action in rescuing four female students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Benue State, who were abducted by armed men on campus.

In a statement on Thursday, NANS National Public Relations Officer, Samson Adeyemi, described the kidnapping as “barbaric” and a major dent on Nigeria’s security architecture.

The students were reportedly waylaid around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday while heading to a lecture hall when the assailants whisked them away to an unknown location. The incident has sparked outrage among students, who are demanding swift action from authorities to secure their release.

Similarly, ActionAid Nigeria has condemned the abduction, warning that insecurity in schools is worsening across the country.

The organization’s Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, stated:

“This incident is another harsh reality of the deepening insecurity across the federation, where schools, homes, roads, and communities have become unsafe spaces.”

He pointed out that the recurring kidnappings in schools bring back memories of past mass abductions, including the Chibok and Dapchi girls, as well as the over 200 students kidnapped in Kuriga, Kaduna State, in 2024.

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Mamedu further stressed that no student should have to choose between getting an education and staying alive, adding:

“If schools are not safe, where can young Nigerians feel secure?”

The abduction of the Benue varsity students has once again highlighted Nigeria’s growing security crisis, with urgent calls for the government to prioritize the safety of students and educational institutions across the country.