BY VICTORIA IKEANO, Lafia
Calm is returning to the residences of off-campus students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), after intervention by the Nasarawa State Police Command.
The intervention came on the heels of alarm raised by the off-campus students over heightened activities of criminal elements in their residential quarters. Areas along, off, and adjacent the highway that is opposite the University’s gate are populated mainly by students. Eyewitnesses said that gunshots could sometimes be heard in some those areas. It led to self-imposed curfew whereby the areas became a ‘no-go area’ at night
A post-graduate student of the university, Abdulkabir Yusuf narrated that gangs of armed robbers had been terrorizing the off-campus students in their residences, injuring them, dispossessing them of their phones, laptops, money and other valuables ‘’and in some cases raping female students’’. He stated that about 24 compounds harbouring majorly, off-campus students were attacked by armed robbers in one week.
Another student Tony Adigi, told this correspondent that happenings in residential areas of off-campus students was a “case of armed robbery, students terrorizing students”. He explained that the area behind Lorem hotel and BCG was dominated by cult groups.
Following the rising incidences of crimes the Students Union imposed a curfew in off-campus quarters. The ‘notice of curfew’ signed by president of the University’s SUG, Comrade Najeem Jonathan Gbefwi read in full: “Following the recent security unrest in the student environment, a curfew has been imposed within the student community from 9p.m everyday till further notice. Students are advised to adhere strictly to the instructions as there will be massive patrol by the military and other security agencies. As a union we sympathise with victims of the recent robberies and criminal activities, and we are doing all that is within our power and capacity to bring the perpetrators to book. Be assured of our best regards always”.
Contacted, NSUK’s Public Relations Officer, Friday Ekpo in a telephone chat made a distinction between students living on campus and those residing outside the campus, insinuating that the institution has lesser control on the latter than the former. He stated that the security of students on campus was assured because the university had enlisted the services of police, civil defence and other security agencies in that regard. He was however, quick to add that the university authority was also concerned about safety of all its students living off campus. On the curfew instituted by the Students Union Government, Ekpo said that he was unaware of it and that the university management was not officially informed about it, adding that he only saw it on social media like all others.
In answer to my enquiries about its response to the situation, spokesperson of the Nasarawa State Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ramhan Nansel, disclosed that the Command had sent its personnel to the area which included anti-cult and anti-kidnapping squads. He further revealed that four people had been arrested in connection with the incidents, two of whom according to him were identified. DSP Nansel concluded by saying that “stability” had returned to the areas.
Comrade Gbefwi , the SUG president, confirmed to this correspondent that normalcy had been restored. He intimated that the curfew imposed by it would soon be relaxed, revealing that it would now start from 11p.m. Answering a question, Gbefwi advised the off-campus students to be security conscious, noting that security is the responsibility of all. He urged them to report any suspicious movement or thing to the security agencies.
