Students’ Killing: ‘Condemnation Not Enough’ — – Falana-led Coalition Tells Buhari

*Demands Rescue Of Abducted Students

The Alliance for Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), a
coalition of labour and civil society organisations, has asked the
federal government to initiate needed actions for the urgent
release of abducted students.

Gunmen attacked the Greenfield University in Kaduna state on
Tuesday and abducted some students.

Three of the abducted students were later found dead on Friday
in Kwanan Bature village, a location close to the university.

In reaction, President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the “barbaric”
killings while expressing his condolences with families of the
victims.

But in a statement on Sunday, Femi Falana, interim chairman of
ASCAB, said official condemnation is not sufficient to address the
lingering security crisis in the country.

He said urgent steps are needed to ensure the rescue of students
abducted from Greenfield University, Government Girls Secondary
School, Chibok, Borno state, and Government Girls’ Science
Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe state.

“Our hearts go to the parents and family members of the students
who have been brutally murdered by one of the several gangs of
bandits operating without any serious challenge in many states in
the North West Zone,” he said.

“As usual, both the federal government and the Kaduna state
government have perfunctorily condemned the reckless killing of the
students. The official condemnation is not enough.

“The governments must take urgent steps to rescue the remaining
students of the Greenfield University and other abducted students
who are currently languishing in the illegal custody of bandits and
terrorists, including the Chibok and Dapchi girls.”

In July 2020, ASCAB accused the federal government of showing
lack of capacity to deal with the violence in the north.

The group recalled the operation which led to the rescue of an
American citizen abducted by bandits in Niger state.

It said the operation was successful owing to deployment of
drones by the US government, adding that such tools should be
deployed in locating the abducted students and rescuing them.

“Instead of only engaging in occasional expression of sympathy
with families of abducted victims who are often killed by bandits
and terrorists, the federal government and the various state
governments should acquire vital security gadgets to track criminal
gangs that are terrorising unarmed citizens,” it said.

“Since the federal and Kaduna state governments should bear full
responsibility for the barbaric murder of the unarmed
undergraduates and other citizens by criminal elements official
wailing is no longer acceptable.”

*Demands Rescue Of Abducted Students

The Alliance for Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), a
coalition of labour and civil society organisations, has asked the
federal government to initiate needed actions for the urgent
release of abducted students.

Gunmen attacked the Greenfield University in Kaduna state on
Tuesday and abducted some students.

Three of the abducted students were later found dead on Friday
in Kwanan Bature village, a location close to the university.

In reaction, President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the “barbaric”
killings while expressing his condolences with families of the
victims.

But in a statement on Sunday, Femi Falana, interim chairman of
ASCAB, said official condemnation is not sufficient to address the
lingering security crisis in the country.

He said urgent steps are needed to ensure the rescue of students
abducted from Greenfield University, Government Girls Secondary
School, Chibok, Borno state, and Government Girls’ Science
Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe state.

“Our hearts go to the parents and family members of the students
who have been brutally murdered by one of the several gangs of
bandits operating without any serious challenge in many states in
the North West Zone,” he said.

“As usual, both the federal government and the Kaduna state
government have perfunctorily condemned the reckless killing of the
students. The official condemnation is not enough.

“The governments must take urgent steps to rescue the remaining
students of the Greenfield University and other abducted students
who are currently languishing in the illegal custody of bandits and
terrorists, including the Chibok and Dapchi girls.”

In July 2020, ASCAB accused the federal government of showing
lack of capacity to deal with the violence in the north.

The group recalled the operation which led to the rescue of an
American citizen abducted by bandits in Niger state.

It said the operation was successful owing to deployment of
drones by the US government, adding that such tools should be
deployed in locating the abducted students and rescuing them.

“Instead of only engaging in occasional expression of sympathy
with families of abducted victims who are often killed by bandits
and terrorists, the federal government and the various state
governments should acquire vital security gadgets to track criminal
gangs that are terrorising unarmed citizens,” it said.

“Since the federal and Kaduna state governments should bear full
responsibility for the barbaric murder of the unarmed
undergraduates and other citizens by criminal elements official
wailing is no longer acceptable.”