Students of Nasarawa State origin in tertiary institutions have decried the continuous kidnapping of their colleagues for ransom, and called on the federal and state governments to expedite action towards proffering a lasting solution to the matter.

Students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi; the state-owned Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia, and the Federal University of Lafia had recently experienced a series of attacks from kidnappers and bandits.

The newly-elected President of the Nasarawa State Students Association, Yunusa Yusuf Baduku, expressed the students’ displeasure on the matter in Lafia on Saturday night after he was declared winner of the presidential election at the 2023/2024 national convention of NASSA in the state.

According to him, the situation if not quickly checked could discourage some students in the state from continuing with their studies for fear of being kidnapped for ransom by the bandits.

“The security challenges on our campuses are uncalled for. In recent times, we have been witnessing issues of kidnapping in our various campuses.

“As the newly elected president of NASSA, I will work closely with the students and security agencies to see how the issues of insecurity can be tackled in tertiary institutions across the state.

“I am assuring my fellow students that I will do everything within my powers to meet up with their expectations. So, I want to thank them for the confidence reposed in me to lead the association, and I promise not to disappoint them,” Baduku added.

While commending the state governor, Abdullahi Sule, for always prioritising the welfare of students through bursary payments and scholarships, Baduku also appealed to him to make further efforts in collaborating with the security agencies in order to tackle insecurity in the state.

Earlier, the Election Committee Chairman, Habila Kutsa, while announcing the results, said Yunusa Baduku of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, polled a total 78 votes to beat his closest rival, Marwan Mohammed Iliya from the Kaduna State University, who scored 35 votes, while Hussein Abubakar Eya from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi got 27 votes.

“The election for the position of president of NASSA has been held. The total number of accredited voters was 146 but we had six invalid votes during the poll.

“By the powers vested on me as the ELCOM chairman, I hereby declare that Yunusa Baduku of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and he is returned elected,” he said.

Our correspondent reports that the convention was held at the state-owned Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia, after security operatives had allegedly denied the students entrance into the premises of the state Ministry of Education, Lafia, which was supposed to be the venue for the convention.

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