Following the unfortunate abduction of students of Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, I led the leadership of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), alongside relevant stakeholders, on a strategic advocacy visit to the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, H.E. Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, at the Ship House, Abuja, to seek urgent government intervention and discuss practical measures to ensure the safe and unconditional release of the affected students.
During the engagement, we expressed the fears and concerns of Nigerian polytechnic students and passionately appealed for a swift, intelligence-driven rescue operation that would guarantee the safe return of the victims without exposing them to further danger or collateral damage. We also emphasized the need for strengthened security measures around tertiary institutions, particularly those located in vulnerable and security-challenged areas.
The Honourable Minister assured us of the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to the safety of the students and disclosed that coordinated security operations were already underway. The assurances received, coupled with the strategic measures being implemented even as the meeting progressed, renewed our confidence and strengthened our hope that the students would regain their freedom safely.
This engagement reaffirmed NAPS’ commitment to standing firmly for the protection, security, and welfare of every Nigerian polytechnic student. We remain actively engaged with relevant authorities and will continue to monitor developments until every affected student is safely reunited with their families.
Further details of the engagement were subsequently shared with the public through our official communication channels.
Comr. Eshiofune Paul Oghayan, GCNPS (ShopRite)
President, NAPS
