UNIJOS students cry for protection as kidnapping rampant in the North

…plan peaceful protest

A cross section of students from the University of Jos (UNIJOS) have expressed deep concern and frustration over the recent kidnapping of 20 medical students, including 12 from their institution.

Some of the students, who spoke on condition of anonymity with BusinessDay, lamented Government’s inability to protect them, particularly in a situation where their colleagues were taken while traveling for a legitimate academic purpose.

The kidnapped students were on their way to Enugu for a Catholic medical students meeting when they were abducted along the Otukpo-Enugu Road in Benue state.

The UNIJOS students on campus were visibly shaken by the incident, demanded immediate action from the Government to ensure the safe release of their colleagues.

“We are terrified and feel helpless. How can we trust the Government to protect us when our colleagues were kidnapped in broad daylight”, one of the students said.

The students called for the unconditional release of their colleagues, urging the Government to take concrete steps to addressing the rising insecurity in the Country.

“It’s not just about our colleagues; it’s about all of us. We need to feel safe on our campuses and on the roads”; another student remarked.

The UniJos students also questioned the effectiveness of the security measures in place, particularly in areas known to be prone to kidnapping.

“We need more than just words from the Government, We need action, and we need it now”, a student said.

BusinessDay gathered from a source that the students were planning to organise a peaceful protest to draw attention to their plight and to demand Government action.

As the situation unfolds, the UniJos community remains on edge, hoping for the safe return of their colleagues and a renewed commitment to their safety and security.

Meanwhile, the University of Jos Alumni Association, Plateau State Chapter, has strongly condemned the recent abduction of medical students from the University of Jos and Maiduguri by criminal elements in Benue State.

The Alumni Association described the incident as a “threat to the search for education and knowledge” and a “clear and present danger” to students.

In a press statement signed by Gad Peter, the chairman of UNIJOS Alumni Association, made available to Journalists on Monday in Jos, the Association called on the Police and other Security Agencies to ensure a swift and safe rescue of the abducted students.