Thelma Osatohanmwen
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has declared Zamfara State a ‘No School Zone,’ in order to ensure the safety of students.
This was disclosed in a press statement at the office of NANS National Secretary, Usman Kankia.
The NANS believes that by declaring a ‘No School Zone,’ it can underscore the gravity of the security situation and prompt a more robust response from the government to ensure the safety and well-being of the students.
The association hopes that this move will be a catalyst for the implementation of stringent security measures to curb the menace of kidnappings in educational institutions, not only in Zamfara but across the nation.
Kankia said, “We cannot stand by while the lives and education of our students are constantly under threat. The recent increase in abductions of students in Zamfara state is unacceptable, and enough is enough.
“In response to this dire situation, NANS is mobilizing Nigerian students from across the country to take a unified stand against these acts of terror. We hereby announce our commitment to shut down all tertiary education institutions in Zamfara state, starting from tomorrow, 16th September. This will be a peaceful but resolute demonstration of our determination to ensure the safety and security of our fellow students.”
According to the statement, NANS will relocate its secretariat to Zamfara State in a bid to draw attention to the relentless kidnappings and abductions of university students in the region.
NANS has also called upon the federal and state governments, as well as all stakeholders in the education sector, to liaise and find a lasting solution to the security challenges facing educational institutions in Nigeria.