No fewer than 28 of the over 200 schoolchildren abducted by gunmen in Kaduna last week have escaped amidst ongoing search and rescue efforts by the military for the remaining ones.
Vice President Kashim Shettima flew into Kaduna yesterday to assess the situation on behalf of the federal government. He soon went into a meeting with the parents of the abductees.
Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris vowed that government was working towards degrading the capacity of criminals to launch similar attacks.
However, an armed gang early yesterday stormed Gidan Bakuso village in Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State and abducted about 15 students of an Islamic school.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani confirmed the escape of the 28 students to the BBC.
It was not clear how the kids made their escape.
The Governor was at the Kaduna Airport yesterday to receive Vice President Shettima and accompany him to the meeting with the parents of the abducted children.
In remarks before the meeting continued behind closed doors, Shettima assured the parents and guardians that government was determined to ensure that all the abducted children were rescued safely.
He told them that President Bola Tinubu had instructed the security agencies to leave no stone unturned until all the kids were rescued.
He urged the media to be circumspect in their reports about the incident.
His words: “I am here on the behest of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to emphatise with the government and people of Kaduna State over the sad incident of this kidnapping of our school kids.
“The President is personally pained by what happened and he has instructed the security agencies to leave no stone unturned until we return our kids to their parents.
“The President has spoken with the Governor of Kaduna State four times. He has spoken with me three times about the rescue of the kids.
“As rightly captured by His Excellency the Governor, the situation is pathetic. I will align with His Excellency and impress on our friends in the media, we are all stakeholders in the Nigeria Project.
“Therefore we should be more circumspect. Let us be more selective in our choice of reporting on the internet of our kids that are not currently with us. I want to commend you and solicit for your continuous support.
“Once again, on behalf of my principal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, please, accept our heartfelt sympathy over the incident that has befallen our people.
“Be rest assured that the President is equal to the task. The very essence of the existence of government is to secure the lives and property of the citizens.
“He has tasked the entire security architecture in the country to get back our kids safely.”
Governor Sani expressed appreciation to the Vice President on the visit, saying: “We have been working with the community as well as the leadership of Chikun Local Government to ensure that we collaborate with relevant security agencies to ensure that all the children return home safely.
“At this juncture, I will like to caution the media to be very careful with the way they make their report, because at this critical time, we have to avoid politicising this very unfortunate incident.
“What is important to us is the safe return of the children.
“I can say we are making some progress, but we are not going to disclose what we have been doing. It is not about politics but about security, and here in Kaduna we don’t politicise issue of security.”
FG vows to degrade criminals’ capacity to attack
Information and National Orientation Minister Idris, in a statement in Abuja on the abduction, said government would “continue to work very hard to ensure that the capacity of criminals to launch these attacks is constantly and irreversibly degraded.”
Reaffirming government’s commitment to the protection of the lives and property of citizens, the minister said: “Our children deserve to seek education in conditions devoid of harm or threat of harm, and any threat to their security is a direct attack on the future of our country.
“While extending heartfelt sympathy to the families and communities affected by this distressing event, the President has directed security agencies to swiftly ensure the safe return of all abducted persons, and the arrest of the perpetrators.
“The government will spare no effort in our pursuit of justice for the victims and in our determination to hold perpetrators of such heinous acts accountable to the full extent of the law.
“The public is urged to remain calm but vigilant, and to provide any relevant information that may assist the security agencies.
“Collective action and solidarity are essential if we are to effectively combat the menace of banditry, insurgency, and insecurity in our country.”
We did not hire private negotiator to free abducted schoolchildren – KDSG
The Kaduna State Government yesterday dismissed as false and mischievous a media report that it hired a private negotiator to facilitate the safe return of the abducted children.
A spokesman for Governor Sani, Muhammad Shehu said in Kaduna that the government “did not hire any private negotiator; neither is it contemplating to make such move.”
He added: “The Kaduna State Government has a clear policy on non-negotiation with terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.”
US to Nigeria: we stand by you
Reacting to the abduction yesterday, the United States said it was in support of Federal Government’s effort s to secure the release of the children.
The US Mission in Nigeria in a statement on X said: “The United States strongly condemns the kidnapping of schoolchildren in Kaduna and displaced persons in Borno.
“Our hearts go out to the victims’ families. We stand with you in demanding the perpetrators face justice and the immediate, safe return of all taken.
“We support Nigeria’s efforts to secure their release.”
ACF: Kidnap onslaught on education in North
The influential Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) condemned the incident, describing the abduction of school children as an onslaught on education in Northern Nigeria.
National Publicity Secretary of the group, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, said the various cases of kidnapping of students were indicative of the parlous state of security in the country, adding that it also showed that school children are a defensively vulnerable population.
The forum however asked the Federal Government to go beyond bland and sterile directives to insisting on results within specific time frames.
It said:”As ACF had observed in July, 2023, when students of the Federal University Gusau were abducted (and sadly still in captivity), these disturbing incidents point to the very parlous state of security in the country, and specifically that schoolchildren are a defensively vulnerable population.
“ACF unequivocally decries and condemns the incidents in strong terms and hereby: Calls for the immediate and unconditional return of the abducted students and pupils, unharmed, to their parents/guardians; Commiserates with the parents/ guardians of the pupils and students.
“ACF calls on all not to be discouraged and not to give the terrorists/bandits any chance to discourage and frighten us with their evil and cowardly tools of terror.”
The forum asked the security forces to adopt “more effective strategies to end the scourge of terrorism in our communities,” pointing out that a regional multi-pronged strategy against the terrorists operating in all contagious state would be more appropriate.
Continuing, it said: “In these regards, the security forces should never dither or stay on the course of plain ineptitude and ineffectiveness that characterise the current strategy to contain and stamp out terrorism throughout the country.
“ACF demands the immediate deployment of new measures including the much-discussed Special Schools Security Scheme, the Schools Vigilante Force, Anti-Kidnapping Squads, etc., across the terror-prone states; Calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to go beyond perfunctory directives to the security forces to rescue the abducted students.”
Sultan advocates Trust Fund for quasi-security outfits as govs resolve to end menace
Reviewing the security situation in the country at the graduation of 2,596 trainees of the Sokoto State Community Guards Corps in Sokoto yesterday, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, called for the establishment of a trust fund to maintain quasi-security outfits across all levels.
He said the fund would go a long way in sustaining the operations of the quasi-security outfits.
He urged the guards to be fearless and remain committed, adding: “God will surely protect and see you through the hurdles.”
The religious monarch also cautioned against allowing the newly recruited guards to go the other way, pointing out that they should be guided to doing the right thing.
He said: “It is duty on them to do the right thing. God has placed that responsibility on you people and avoid anything capable of influencing your responsibility while discharging your duty,” he stressed.
Also, former governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Senate Committee Chairman on Local and Foreign Debts noted that security was a pillar in attaining development.
He decried how insecurity had brought the society down on its knees, adding that it has affected the economy and well being of the society.
He urged the guards to exhibit the spirit of dedication and patriotism while discharging their assignment.
“Doing so will bring peace and stability in the state and to the country. Together we shall work for the safety and development of our people by supporting the government of the state to deliver the dividends of democracy to all,” Wamakko said.
In his own remarks, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed expressed concern at the level of insecurity in the north.
He said: “I am and feel ashamed being called a northerner. We are becoming a liability to ourselves.”
He said northern governors had resolved and taken steps to tackle insecurity.
Rights activist urges Tinubu to order relocation of service chiefs to Kaduna, Borno
Human Rights Lawyer and convener of Concerned Nigerians group, Comrade Deji Adeyanju, called on President Tinubu to direct all service chiefs to relocate to Kaduna and Borno, where about 800 children and women were abducted by bandits.
Adeyanju, in a statement issued on Saturday, also condemned the recent invasion of a mosque in Kaduna by terrorists on a Friday, resulting in the tragic loss of innocent lives.
“The abduction of about 800 children and women is a heinous crime that is completely unacceptable. It is a tragic reminder of the worsening security situation in Nigeria, particularly in the northern part of the country.
“The lives of these young students and women are at stake, and it is imperative that swift and decisive action be taken to secure their safe release.
“It is our firm belief that the presence of the Service Chiefs in Kaduna and Borno states will demonstrate the government’s commitment to the safety and security of its citizens. It will provide reassurance to the affected community and serve as a symbol of resolve in combating these acts of terror.
“I also propose that the Service Chiefs should not return to Abuja until tangible progress is made in rescuing the abducted students and women. This measure will ensure that the situation receives the utmost attention and resources required for a swift resolution”.
Adeyanju acknowledged that the fight against terrorism and insecurity is a complex and multifaceted task.
He said: “However, it is crucial that the government demonstrates its unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and well-being of its citizens.”
Adeyanju called on President Tinubu to take immediate action and deploy all necessary resources to secure the safe return of the abducted students, women and restore peace and security in the country.
Gunmen abduct Islamic students in Sokoto
As the nation still grieves over the recent abductions in Kaduna and Borno states, a gang of gunmen struck early yesterday at Gidan Bakuso villagein Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State, abducting about 15 students of an Islamic school.
The bandits stormed the village at about 1am, shooting to scare the residents.
One woman was hit and another abducted.
The shooting apparently sent the students scampering to safety.
