Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has decried the abduction of female students from the Federal University, Gusau, in Zamfara State.

Also, NEF in a statement by his Director-General, Prof. Doknan DD Sheni, said that the abduction of these female students has left the Northern Elders Forum with “a sour taste in the mouth.”

He said that it will steadfastly pursue the release of all those still in captivity and work towards the swift restoration of peace and stability in the North and across Nigeria, added that the forum reaffirms its unwavering sympathy and shared concerns with the parents and families of the victims of this heinous act.

The Forum also calls upon federal, state, and local governments to collaborate closely in establishing a more comprehensive, robust, and enduring security system. This system should be built upon local vigilance, empowerment, and efficient service delivery to all citizens.

He said: “Nigerians in general and the people of Northern Nigeria in particular, have over the years, seen their lives and businesses cruelly ravaged by mounting insecurity, which is characterized by religious insurgencies, banditry, herders -farmers feuds and violent kidnappings.

“The cumulative adver se effects of these societal ills on the relative state of stability, strong social cohesion and the future economic prosperity of the North, have been well documented elsewhere, to really belabor us here.

“Suffice it to say, that, while we in the NEF feel enormously encouraged by the good news of the recent timely rescue of some of the kidnapped Gusau girls by our gallant soldiers, notably following the order given by His Excellency, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we in NEF, shall remain unwavering in our determination to secure the release of all those still in captivity and the speedy return of peace and stability to the North and Nigeria as a whole.”

Doknan further emphasizes that the cumulative detrimental effects of these societal ills on the relative state of stability, strong social cohesion, and the future economic prosperity of the North have been extensively documented elsewhere, sparing us from further elaboration.