Banditry, kidnappings threatening access to education in North — Students

The Student Wing of the Northern Youth Frontiers, NYF, has raised concerns over worsening insecurity around tertiary institutions in Northern Nigeria, warning that attacks by bandits and kidnappers are threatening access to education and endangering students across the region.

The concerns were contained in a communiqué issued after an emergency joint congress of student leaders, campus delegates and youth stakeholders from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory held in Abuja.

The communiqué was jointly signed by the National Coordinator of the NYF Student Wing, Ibrahim Bello, and the Secretary-General, Hauwa Abdulaziz.

According to the group, many tertiary institutions and off-campus student communities remain vulnerable to attacks, forcing students to live in fear while pursuing their education.

The students called on President Bola Tinubu to intensify security measures around campuses and strengthen protection for students across the region.

They specifically urged the Federal Government to increase funding for the Safe Schools Initiative and deploy round-the-clock security patrols around universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, off-campus student residences and major transit routes.

The group warned that continued insecurity was disrupting academic activities, increasing anxiety among parents and students, and worsening educational challenges in Northern Nigeria.

The group stressed that the benefits of the loan scheme programme could be undermined if insecurity around schools and campuses persists.