Concerned students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University have voiced their apprehension regarding the rising incidents of student kidnappings within and outside their residential neighborhoods in Awka. They are calling on both the government and university authorities to take decisive action in addressing this alarming trend.
The students had the opportunity to express the way they feel about the worrisome situation while contributing during media and students summit organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Enugu Field Office and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Radio, Awka to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok girls in the North East.
“We are living in fear and always sleeping with one eye open because of the frequent incidents of abduction.
“The insecurity around the campus is even making many of us to be losing concentration in our studies and our parents are always entertaining fears that we are living in fear,”
they said.
They observed that currently, a 200 – level student is still missing, only few days after another student, Francisca Chioma, who was abducted on her way to a burial, was released.
However, the Chief Security Officer of the university, Mr. Ken Chukwurah, who said that he was part of the team that rescued two batches of the Chibok girls, urged the students to always be security conscious, adding that security is the responsibility of everybody and not just the government or those directly in charge.
He observed that the unique problem UNIZIK has is that most of the students reside outside the campus, thereby making it difficult to fully monitor their hostels.
He said: “More than 90% of UNIZIK students live outside the university and the problem it creates is that most times, those students feel that it is the responsibility of the school management to operate their security there. That may even be the reason many of you call us even at midnight when something goes wrong in the off campus hostels.
” In spite of the fact that the properties you are occupying belong to private people, we still ensure your safety and that is why I can pick your calls even at odd hours to know the situation of things there.”
Giving them security tips, Chukwurah advised the students to always be proactive on the issue of securing themselves, reminding them that women are more hard -hit because of their penchant for frequent travels.
“If you must travel to go and see someone you had not met before, ensure that two of you meet in a public place. Always tell people where you are going to and who you are going to see. You must also learn some tricks on how you can defend yourselves in case of any attack,” he told them.
