Fear has enveloped the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) community in Nasarawa State as a threat letter, suspected to be from local bandits operating in the region, has surfaced.

This unsettling development comes on the heels of a similar incident in November last year when eight students were abducted after a threat letter was sent to nearby Gandu community, where over 40% of the university’s population resides.

The alleged letter reportedly conveyed a message, notifying residents of Gandu and the university community about the bandits’ intention to abduct and kill victims without any ransom demand.

In response to the heightened security concerns, an urgent meeting was convened and presided over by Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Prof. Aleruchi Chuku.

The meeting was aimed at formulating a comprehensive action plan involving various stakeholders to enhance peace and security within the university and its adjacent communities.

During the meeting, Prof. Chuku stated the need for collaborative efforts in ensuring a safe and crime-free environment for teaching and learning, urging residents to remain vigilant and actively support the university’s initiatives to enhance security.

Chairing the meeting, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Partnerships), Prof. Samaila Usman Dakyes, called for a unified approach to address the prevailing insecurity within and around the university’s premises.

Stakeholders, recognizing the collective responsibility in ensuring safety, called on community leaders to collaborate with security agencies by providing timely information that could address potential threats.

Staff members expressed their concerns, citing instances of fear and insecurity, with one mentioning the tragic death of a colleague who, after being kidnapped, could not recover from the ordeal faced at the hands of the abductors.

One of them said, “One of our members, who was kidnapped, died recently after his release. He could not recover from the molestation he went through at the hands of his abductors.”