Gunmen Attack Federal Polytechnic Oko: Students Abducted, Lives Lost — NAPS Demands Urgent Government Action

The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has reacted with deep sorrow and outrage following a deadly attack by unidentified gunmen near the Federal Polytechnic, Oko in Anambra State. The violent incident, which occurred recently, has left multiple students and a lecturer abducted, several others injured, and tragically claimed lives.

In an official press statement signed by the President of the Senate, NAPS, Comrade Oyewumi Festus Ayomide, the student body expressed solidarity with the leadership of the Student Union Government of the institution, led by Comrade Odumegwu Chinecherem Emmanuel, as well as the management under the Provost. The association mourns the loss and calls the attack a “barbaric act” that should never occur in an academic environment.

“The classroom should never become a place of fear,” the statement read. “Our schools must remain safe, sacred spaces for learning, not targets for criminal elements.”

NAPS has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive and strategic actions to address the rising wave of insecurity across the country, particularly as it affects students. The association stressed that students — the backbone of Nigeria’s future — deserve to learn in environments free from terror and violence.

“The safety of students must become a national priority,” Comrade Oyewumi stated, adding that urgent security measures must be taken to protect campuses and their surrounding communities.

The statement also encouraged students across Nigeria to remain vigilant and security-conscious, urging them to report any suspicious movements or activities around them. NAPS affirmed that it has already reached out to the SUG leadership at Federal Polytechnic Oko and pledged continued engagement with relevant authorities to ensure justice and safety for all affected.

“To the families of the victims, the Federal Polytechnic Oko community, and the entire Nigerian student body, our hearts are with you in this dark moment,” the statement concluded. “May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace.”

As the nation reels from yet another act of senseless violence, students across Nigeria watch closely to see how swiftly and effectively the government will respond.