“I want to appeal to the state governments to as a matter of urgency complement the efforts of the Federal Government by ensuring that all the campuses within their jurisdictions are safe and well protected”
By Nudoiba Ojen
The Senior Special Assistants to the President on Students’ Engagements, Hon. Sunday Asefon, has commended the Federal Government and the Nigerian Police for swiftly securing the release of 20 medical students abducted by kidnappers in Benue State last Thursday.
Asefon said, “The seriousness exhibited by the Federal Government to secure the release, with the way the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, visited Benue State to supervise the operation showed the enormous respect President Bola Tinubu has for the vast student population in the country”.
The presidential aide, who spoke in a statement on Saturday, rejoiced with Nigerian students over how all the students were released unbruised and with no death recorded.
The medical students were abducted last Thursday along the Otukpo/Otukpa/Enugu federal highway while travelling to Enugu State for the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students’ annual convention.
Asefon, a former students’ leader, saluted the bravery of the Nigerian Police and the pivotal coordinated role played by the office of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to ensure speedy release of the abducted students.
“Let me on behalf of my colleagues across the country congratulate the students, families and the entire students in the country for the release of our kidnapped members, who were held by notorious abductors, thereby creating panic among Nigerians.
“I specially thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who directed the office of the NSA and IGP Egbetokun to throw out all arsenals to ensure that the students were brought back hale and hearty.
“Though, we consider this action against our colleagues as highly traumatizing and uncalled for, but we need to recognise the fact that the FG under President Tinubu is working hard and contriving ways to ensure that sanity returns to the land in terms of security of lives and property.
“I want to appeal to the state governments to as a matter of urgency complement the efforts of the Federal Government by ensuring that all the campuses within their jurisdictions are safe and well protected,” Asefon said.
