This was made known to SaharaReporters by concerned nurses from the state in a statement on Friday.
Female nursing and midwifery students of the Jigawa State College of Nursing Science, Birnin Kudu, were made to stand along a busy roadside in front of their institution on January 19, 2026, to serve as a public display during a political event.
This was made known to SaharaReporters by concerned nurses from the state in a statement on Friday.
The concerned nurses described the action as “unethical,” in a statement, adding that it “has no precedent in the history of nursing education in Jigawa State.”
The nurses stressed that nursing students “are learners and future healthcare professionals” and “are not tools for political messaging.”
“They must never be treated as such again,” the nurses said.
The nurses highlighted the “serious risks to student safety and well-being” associated with the incident.
According to the statement, “Passing vehicles and official convoys created a real risk of road traffic accidents.”
It further recalled that “in previous years, a male student nurse from the same college lost his life after being struck by a high-speed vehicle in this same highway,” adding that the tragic incident “should have permanently ended any practice that places students near active roadways.”
Other health risks identified included “heavy sunlight” that may affect their skin, “dust” which “can cause lung disease or precipitate asthmatic attacks,” and “prolonged standing” that “can lead to leg discomfort and other musculoskeletal issues.”
The statement also noted that “exposure to crowds may lead to assault or other forms of harassment.”
Condemning the treatment of students, the statement described the incident as “gross disrespect to nursing and education.”
It noted that “turning nursing students into roadside spectators for political events devalues the profession and diminishes public trust in healthcare education.”
The statement held the institution’s leadership responsible, saying, “The leadership of the Jigawa State College of Nursing Science, Birnin Kudu, must be held accountable for allowing this to occur.”
It added that the school’s duty is “to protect students and support learning, not to expose them to unsafe and degrading practices for political purposes.”
The statement concluded by emphasising that “nursing is a vital and respected profession,” warning that “any action that reduces nursing students to political spectacle harms healthcare, education, and society as a whole.”
It stressed that “this incident should never have happened,” and insisted that “it must never happen again, nursing students deserve dignity and respect.”