The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has asked the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government to ensure that the remaining students of the Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State, abducted by terrorists are rescued unhurt.
SaharaReporters on Monday reported that about 24 students out of no fewer than 30 students of the University who were abducted on Friday, are still being held captive by their abductors.
The gunmen invaded the students’ residence at Sabon-Gida identified as Nazeer Sabon-Gida and took away some female students of the school, whose number could not be ascertained at the time.
A few hours later, the Nigerian Army announced that it had rescued six of the students after a gun battle with the terrorists.
Reacting to the incident on Tuesday on his X (formerly Twitter) page, Obi who is a former Governor of Anambra State in the Southeast region of the country said that it is the primary duty of the government to provide adequate security for Nigerians.
The Labour Party presidential candidate said that the attack and abduction of the students in Zamfara and many other attacks on students is an attack on education in Nigeria where, according to him, over 18 million out-of-school children are already roaming the streets.
He stressed that such attacks would only impact negatively on the country’s education system and force more students out of school, noting that the government owes the nation a duty to deliver its primary duty of securing lives and properties, which according to him, is the first step towards national peace and development.
Obi said, “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.
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.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) September 26, 2023
“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.
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, — Peter Obi (@PeterObi) September 26, 2023
“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.
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.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) September 26, 2023
“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. “Attacks like this will only impact negatively on the education system, forcing more students out of school. 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.
Attacks like this will only impact negatively on the education system, forcing more students out of school. 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. — Peter Obi (@PeterObi) September 26, 2023
“I sympathize with the victims of this unfortunate incident. I share the agony of their parents and relations in this trying moment. I pray that they will be rescued and reunited with their families and loved ones.
I sympathize with the victims of this unfortunate incident. I share the agony of their parents and relations in this trying moment. I pray that they will be rescued and reunited with their families and loved ones.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) September 26, 2023
“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.
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. — Peter Obi (@PeterObi) September 26, 2023
“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.”
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. -PO
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) September 26, 2023
