The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has renewed its call on the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the rescue and safe return of students and teachers abducted in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing their continued captivity after 55 days as a national tragedy that should not be ignored.
In a press statement issued on Thursday by its President, Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, the apex student body expressed deep concern over the prolonged ordeal of the victims, warning that the nation cannot afford to remain indifferent while innocent students and educators continue to suffer in the hands of their abductors.
Quoting the words of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., the association declared that, “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people,” stressing that silence in the face of the victims' continued captivity amounts to cruelty and complicity.
NANS said the abduction has remained a source of trauma not only for the affected families but also for students across the country, noting that the victims are young Nigerians with promising futures and teachers committed to shaping the next generation.
According to the association, it has consistently demanded the immediate rescue of the abducted students and teachers since the incident occurred, maintaining that those behind the crime are enemies of the Nigerian state who must not be allowed to prevail.
The student body argued that the prolonged captivity of the victims underscores the need for renewed urgency in the country's security response.
"As the apex leadership of Nigerian students, we have, since this tragic abduction, continued to speak out for the immediate rescue and safe return of our fellow students and teachers. This continued captivity is both traumatic and tragic," the statement read.
NANS insisted that the government must demonstrate greater determination in confronting insecurity, stressing that the abductors do not possess greater strength than the Nigerian state.
The association commended the Federal Government and security agencies for efforts made so far in addressing the situation but maintained that more decisive action is required to secure the victims' freedom.
It also disclosed that it has remained actively involved in advocacy efforts surrounding the incident, including engaging with the Oyo State Government, visiting the scene of the abduction, commiserating with affected families and communities, and assessing the local security architecture to complement ongoing rescue efforts.
According to the student body, these engagements were aimed not only at facilitating the safe return of the victims but also at identifying measures capable of preventing similar incidents in the future.
Despite these interventions, NANS lamented that the students and teachers remain in captivity, describing the development as both heartbreaking and unacceptable.
"It is pathetic and traumatic, and we cannot remain silent while millions of dreams are left to perish in the bush," the association stated.
The organisation called on the Federal Government, Oyo State Government, security agencies and all relevant authorities to treat the matter as one of national importance by intensifying rescue operations and ensuring the victims are reunited with their families without further delay.
It also extended its appeal beyond Oyo State, urging authorities to strengthen efforts to rescue all Nigerians held captive by criminal elements in different parts of the country.
NANS reiterated that safeguarding lives and property remains one of the primary constitutional responsibilities of government and called for sustained investment in security measures capable of protecting schools, students and educational institutions nationwide.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to championing the welfare, safety and rights of Nigerian students, pledging to continue advocating for improved security across the country until the abducted students and teachers regain their freedom.
