Zamfara Circle Community Initiative Urges State Government to Rescue Stranded Students in Cyprus
A non-governmental organization, Zamfara Circle Community Initiative, has appealed to the Zamfara State Government to intervene and save students sponsored by the state to study in Cyprus from falling into criminal activities.
According to the group during in a press conference in Gusau on Saturday, the students who were sponsored to study in Cyprus by Zamfara State Government are currently in a terrible situation, stranded due to alleged abandonment, forcing many to sleep in mosques and engage in menial jobs to survive.
The group leader, Dr. Lawal Aminu, revealed that the students lack accommodation after being ejected from their hostels. With expired visas and passports, they risk imprisonment and deportation. Aminu emphasized that living in a foreign country without legal documentation puts them in a vulnerable position.
The situation has led to dire consequences, with one student deported to Lagos in handcuffs and another detained in a Cypriot prison. Zamfara Circle submitted a Freedom of Information request to the state’s Ministry of Education on October 17, 2024, seeking information on the students’ status but received no response.
“Living in a foreign country without legal documentation puts them at risk of imprisonment and deportation. The intent was to balance information from the government with that obtained from other stakeholders, including parents, civil society organisations, and the students themselves, to identify gaps and advise the government where necessary.
“To date, however, there has been no response to our inquiry,” he added.
In response, speaking on behalf of the Zamfara State Government, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dauda Lawal, Mustafa Kaura, attributed the problem to the previous administration’s lack of proper arrangements for the students.
Kaura claimed that the government have constituted a committee to verify the number of students in Cyprus and address their issues.
“You see, these students went to Cyprus during the administration of former governor, Bello Mattawalle, and there was no solid foundation for them to continue studying in that country.
“Nothing tangible was made for them to study in Cyprus except the temporary arrangement made by the former Governor Bello Mattawalle just because of political reasons.
“I want to assure the people of the state that, Governor Dauda Lawal has constituted a committee and by the grace of God, those students would soon be assisted,” Kaura added
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Jerome Kalu
Jerome Kalu is currently the Senior Correspondent of PIJAlance in Lagos. He was previously the Campus Information Desk (CID) Editor.