The parents of the kidnapped Afaka Forestry Mechanization Institute in Kaduna State protested at the National Assembly building in Abuja on Tuesday, demanding their children return home safely and ending the country’s insecurity.
On March 11, bandits in Military uniforms kidnapped 39 students from the school. Later, the bandits released 10 students in two batches, but still held captive 29 of them.
What is coming is that if the government fails to meet their demands by May 4 (Tuesday), the kidnappers of Greenfield University students in the state threatened to kill the remaining 17 students.
The aggrieved parents and the institution’s Students Union members were joined by some activists including Omoyele Sowore and Deji Adeyanju, who earlier gathered at the Unity Fountain from where the protesters marched to the National Assembly complex.
However, the security men manning the main entrance of the National Assembly denied them entrance and they receded to the Unity Fountain.
The protesters chanted songs of solidarity and displayed placards demanding the prompt rescue of the students and accused the state and federal governments of negligence in securing the release of the students.
Some inscription on the placards read ”Education is our right! Safety is our right! Freedom is our right!, Free Afaka 29!”
Speaking at the resumption of plenary, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, directed the Chairmen of House Committees on Defence, Army, Navy and Air Force to step out and address the aggrieved parents.
Returning an hour later, the Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson, was asked by the Speaker to brief the House on what happened.
Responding, Benson said upon getting to the gate of the National Assembly, the protesters had left and they proceeded to Unity Fountain to meet them.
Getting there, he said the aggrieved parents looked oppressed, suppressed and dejected.
According to Benson ; ”They feel they’ve been abandoned and have not eaten since two days. They don’t have any hope, the only hope they have is on the parliament. They sent us back to you to plead with you that their plight on their missing kids be addressed. They also requested that we speak on behalf of the kids that were kidnapped at the Greenfield University.”
He appealed to the House to look into the matter urgently.
The Speaker, Gbajabiamila, while expressing sadness, said their grievances will be referred to the newly set up ad hoc committee on security to proffer solutions.
Parents of Abducted Kaduna Students Protest at N’ Assembly
The parents of the kidnapped Afaka Forestry Mechanization Institute in Kaduna State protested at the National Assembly building in Abuja on Tuesday, demanding their children return home safely and ending the country’s insecurity.
On March 11, bandits in Military uniforms kidnapped 39 students from the school. Later, the bandits released 10 students in two batches, but still held captive 29 of them.
What is coming is that if the government fails to meet their demands by May 4 (Tuesday), the kidnappers of Greenfield University students in the state threatened to kill the remaining 17 students.
The aggrieved parents and the institution’s Students Union members were joined by some activists including Omoyele Sowore and Deji Adeyanju, who earlier gathered at the Unity Fountain from where the protesters marched to the National Assembly complex.
However, the security men manning the main entrance of the National Assembly denied them entrance and they receded to the Unity Fountain.
The protesters chanted songs of solidarity and displayed placards demanding the prompt rescue of the students and accused the state and federal governments of negligence in securing the release of the students.
Some inscription on the placards read ”Education is our right! Safety is our right! Freedom is our right!, Free Afaka 29!”
Speaking at the resumption of plenary, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, directed the Chairmen of House Committees on Defence, Army, Navy and Air Force to step out and address the aggrieved parents.
Returning an hour later, the Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson, was asked by the Speaker to brief the House on what happened.
Responding, Benson said upon getting to the gate of the National Assembly, the protesters had left and they proceeded to Unity Fountain to meet them.
Getting there, he said the aggrieved parents looked oppressed, suppressed and dejected.
According to Benson ; ”They feel they’ve been abandoned and have not eaten since two days. They don’t have any hope, the only hope they have is on the parliament. They sent us back to you to plead with you that their plight on their missing kids be addressed. They also requested that we speak on behalf of the kids that were kidnapped at the Greenfield University.”
He appealed to the House to look into the matter urgently.
The Speaker, Gbajabiamila, while expressing sadness, said their grievances will be referred to the newly set up ad hoc committee on security to proffer solutions.
