Residents of Buni Yardi community in the Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State have demanded the return of the College of Agriculture, Gujba, relocated from the community to Damaturu, the state capital, more than five years ago over insecurity.

Speaking with SaharaReporters, some leaders of the community and politicians said that stable security had been restored to Buni Yardi for about five years, noting that other schools which were also either relocated or closed over insecurity had been returned to the community and reopened.

They insisted that the College of Agriculture should be returned to Buni Yardi since the security situation had been resolved, as the college is the only higher institution in the area.

A resident of the community, Abba Musa, who spoke on behalf of Buni Yadi Youth Coalition, said, “Since the other schools were returned, why has the College of Agriculture which is the only higher institution we have not been returned?”

According to Musa, “Many of our youth in the town who graduated from secondary schools cannot afford to proceed with their education as a result of financial problems”.

“If the college is in the town like before, many of the youths can proceed with their education in the college because they will have time to manage their businesses and schooling simultaneously and they will have less transportation cost,” he added.

Also, another youth leader in the community, Ya’u Haruna, appealed to the state governor, Mai Mala Buni, and other stakeholders in the state to help in returning the college to Buni Yadi town.

Haruna said that Buni Yadi is currently more secure than any other part of the state as the School of Special Forces was located in the town “and the military has restored peace and security in that community. So, no more insecurity again”.

“The college should be returned so that our brothers and sisters can proceed with their education,” he added.

A politician in the community who spoke on condition of anonymity also appealed to the state government to return the college to Buni Yadi, saying it would improve accessibility to education for the people of the area.