From Abel Abogonye, Lafia
Following the incessant abductions of students and staff of the Nasarawa state University Keffi (NSUK), the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Friday took to the streets in Keffi to protest and expressed their grievances.
In a peaceful protest at the Senate building of the University in Keffi local government area of Nasarawa state, the union expressed sadness over the unabated kidnap that has created fears and bad name for the state institution, noting that no parent would want his ward admitted Into the institution.
Within a month the Deputy Vice Chancellor, four students, a lecturer and two family members of one other lecturer were Abducted and later released after payment of ransome to their abductors with millions of naira.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions “Governor A A Sule save us from terrorists”, “Save lives of university lecturers. Overhaul the security apparatus in Keffi for us to be secured”, “The lives of lecturers matter. Let the lecturers breathe” among others.
Speaking shortly after the protest, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, National President, ASUU condemned the kidnapping which he described as pathetic as he called on relevant authorities to put in place necessary steps to avert future occurrence.
“It’s a pathetic situation. We are calling on the government, the Vice Chancellor and management of the institution to rise up to their responsibilities and ensure people are safe in this university,” he said.
He commended the ASUU branch for organizing the peaceful protest which he said was necessary to notify relevant authorities of the displeasure of the union over the recent incidents.
“I commend this branch for this protest and I want to assure you that we will also take action over this ugly development,” he added.
Also speaking, Prof. Samuel Alu, Chairman, ASUU NSUK Branch described the incessant abduction of members of the union and students as a pill too bitter to swallow hence the decision by an emergency congress of the branch’s union to organize a peaceful protest.
“We are here to register our displeasure because within the last three weeks, several of our members have been kidnapped.
“We find it difficult to understand why these incidents will happen consistently without any form of condemnation on the part of government or military,” he said.
He explained that aside the peaceful protest, the branch’s emergency congress also urged that Governor Abdullahi Sule should rise to the occasion in addressing the security challenges that have bedeviled NSUK.
“Our members are living in perpetual fear and threats because nobody knows who is next. We are being improvised and being made to pay ransom and nobody has to come to our aid.
“We are putting this notice that we can no longer accept this kind of ugly incidents on our members. Students have also been captured and ransome have been paid.
“The fear is if this continues, Nasarawa state will soon cease to exist because of fear, people will have to leave because of their safety before talking about education.
“So we are calling on the Commissioner of Police Nasarawa state command to also rise to the occasion. What is happening is totally unacceptable to ASUU NSUK Branch and ASUU generally,” he said.
In an interview with newsmen, Prof. Abdullahi Modibbo, Deputy Vice Chancellor, NSUK who spoke on behalf of the NSUK Vice Chancellor, Prof Suleiman Bala-Mohammed admitted that the institution was facing difficult times for almost a month due to incessant abductions of staff and students.
“Maybe by putting the records straight. Three of our lecturers were kidnapped. A wife of our lecturer was kidnapped. Four students of this university were also kidnapped.
“But most of them are staying off campus. So most of the people that were kidnapped are those staying outside the campus. It is a source of concern to the management of the institution even though we know it is a national problem,” he said.
He however assured that the management of the institution is making serious efforts to checkmate the ugly trend and put a stop to it.
“For those on campus, we don’t have much problem because we are in collaboration with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“For those living off campus, we have approved the recruitment of twenty vigilantes that will be strategically trained to do their job in various nooks and crannies of the various off campus loctions. This is one of the efforts we are making on security of staff and students,” he said.