Following the recent attacks at Gombe State University, Gombe and Bayero University, Kano, students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have threatened to stay away from their classes if the Federal Government fails to guarantee the safety of lives and properties in higher institutions across the country.
On Thursday 26th April, 2012, the administrative block of Gombe State University was bombed by persons suspected to be members of the Islamic sect. And on Sunday, 29th April, two University Professors and 13 others were killed by bombers and gunmen suspected to be members of the terrorist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, when they attacked Christian worshippers at Bayero University, Kano.
National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Mr. Mohammed Dauda, condemned the attacks, saying that students, parents and teachers were no longer at ease with the threat to academic activities at the higher institutions. He chided the government for not doing enough to stop the violence in the North and also urged the government to end the bloodshed in the country at all costs.
“Without mincing words, NANS in the next few days shall not hesitate to order a total boycott on all Nigerian campuses until the issue of the security of lives and property is guaranteed on our campuses.”
“We have once again received the news of the callous attack which occurred this morning at the Bayero University, Kano.”
“It is saddening to imagine that a group under whatever pretence could unleash terror on campus of one of the nation’s foremost universities to maim innocent peaceful worshipers.”
“This act is not only condemnable; it has also increased our demand that the Federal Government should immediately take a concrete step in addressing the wave of terrorism in Nigeria.”
Last Thursday, similar bomb attacks by the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, on ThisDay Newspaper offices in Kaduna and Kano left six people dead and several others injured. After claiming responsibility for the attacks, the sect promised to target more media houses in their deadly attacks.
While the country is still grappling with the news that media houses may no longer be safe, the recent attacks on higher institutions has further put a greater percentage of citizens of the country in fear. The target in Bayero University was a Christian fellowship at St. Stephens Catholic Church, but was nonetheless in a University environment.
The remark by the NANS National President that students no longer feel safe with the attacks on higher institutions is therefore justified. How can they feel safe when two Universities were attacked within the space of three days leaving several students and two University Professors dead?
So please share, what do you think can be done to improve security of students on campuses? What do you think of the recent attacks on higher institutions and the fact that students no longer feel safe?
Source: Punch News
