The final journey of a young university student has thrown fresh spotlight on a growing security crisis in Nasarawa State.
Friends, family members and the Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA) community on Sunday gathered in tears to bid farewell to 400-level Chemistry student, Habiba Ummi Lele, who was shot dead by suspected armed robbers while returning from a friend’s graduation ceremony.
But beyond the grief surrounding her burial, Habiba’s death has reignited troubling questions: How safe are students in Nasarawa State, and who could be next?
Habiba was reportedly killed on Saturday after suspected armed robbers opened fire on the vehicle conveying her back to Lafia from the College of Health and Technology, Keffi, where she had attended a graduation ceremony. She was said to have died instantly.
Her funeral prayer, held on Sunday at the residence of Hon. Hudu A. Hudu Kanje in Kanje, drew a large crowd of mourners, including the Executive Chairman of Awe Local Government Area, Hon. Umar Abubakar Dan’Akano, lawmakers, community leaders, friends and sympathisers.
As condolences poured in, anger and frustration also erupted across social media, with many Nigerians lamenting what they described as the country’s deepening insecurity.
On Facebook, Mujahid Saleh Saad prayed for the late undergraduate and her loved ones, asking Allah to forgive her shortcomings, comfort her family and protect travellers from harm.
Instagram user Stephiny Ugomma summed up the mood of many Nigerians with a sobering remark: “To hear good news these days is by God’s grace.”
Another Facebook user, Tony Ocheni, lamented the scale of killings across the country, while an Instagram user identified as The Quiet described the worsening wave of armed robbery and kidnapping in Nasarawa State as “deeply alarming,” asking how many more innocent lives must be lost before decisive action is taken.
Habiba’s death comes barely days after three 100-level FULAFIA students were abducted during a late-night attack on Sure Leaders Lodge, an off-campus hostel in the Bukan Kwato area of Lafia.
The attackers reportedly stormed the hostel at about 8:45 p.m. and whisked the students away, further raising fears about the safety of students living outside the university campus.
With a student buried after a deadly robbery attack and three others still in captivity, pressure is mounting on security agencies and the Nasarawa State Government to urgently address the deteriorating security situation.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had been issued on the attack that claimed Habiba’s life, while efforts to rescue the abducted students were said to be ongoing.
