Security
•We’re in disarray, every household’s affected, says local
•Fear grips neighbouring villages; mass exodus eminent
BANDITS yesterday attacked LEA primary school at Kuriga community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, shooting a pupil and abducting over 200 others and teachers.
The latest abduction came barely twenty-four hours after Boko Haram insurgents kdnapped 300 women in Borno State and set ablaze their internally displaced persons’ (IDPs) camp.
According to a local who craved anonymity, the incident happened at about 8. 30 am as the pupils were about to conclude the morning assembly.
The local, who craved anonymity, said the bandits came from different parts of the village and encircled the school premises.
“The bandits kidnapped over 200, both primary school pupils and secondary students. The secondary school students were moved from a location outside the community to the primary school due to the fear of bandits’ attack.
“They also went away with a teacher, named Isa. They shot one student, identified simply as Rabilu, who was rushed to Birnin Gwari hospital. He survived.
“They (bandits) gathered all the children and forced them to move towards the North Eastern part of the community, on foot.
” The entire community is in deep confusion. Every household was affected. Besides, we are all related We are also afraid of renewed attacks because the bandits might be hiding somewhere to wait for security operatives who may come on rescue mission .
“Kuriga is in serious confusion. The situation is very unpleasant.The vigilante here are not well equipped. The security operatives are stationed at Udawa which is far. We also have network problem,” he said.
Meanwhile, an official of the state government confirmed the incident to journalists and assured that a statement would soon be issued.
We’re combing the bushes to rescue them-POLICE
Mansir Hassan, spokesperson of Kaduna State police command, confirmed the incident but did not give detail.
”I’m attending a security meeting but the police tactical team has been deployed to go after the criminals by combing the bushes to rescue the victims,” he said.
Reacting to the attack, former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, in his X (former Twitter) said: “It’s tragic to hear that 232 students have just been kidnapped in Kuriga village,Chikun LG in Kaduna State.
”It’s the same village where a school principal, Idris Sufyan, was killed and his wife kidnapped over a month ago. However, I’m optimistic their freedom will be secured.”
Reacll that the federal government came up with the Safe Schools Initiative to stave off further invasion of schools and kidnap of pupils’students.
The project came into being after the global outcry that followed the abduction of students of Government Girls College in Chibok, Borno State in 2014.
According to the National Coordinator, Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria, Hajia Halima Iliya Ibrahim, “A national plan on Financing Safe Schools was developed and launched in December, 2022. The National Plan will be implemented between 2023 -2026, with a total investment size of N144. 8 billion.
“The plan proposes N32.58 in 2023, N36.98 billion in 2024, N37. 15 billion in 2025 and N38.03 billion in 2026 respectively. To this end, the Federal Government made a provision of N15 billion in 2023.”
In the same vein, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, recently unveiled security equipment and commenced a training programme for state coordinators of the Schools Protection Squad, SPS, and selected Divisional Police Officers nationwide.
Reps ask security agencies to free 300 kidnapped women in Borno
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday called on security agencies to free the 300 women kidnapped in Borno State while fetching fire woods in the bush.
Zainab Gimba (Borno State), who mentioned it on the floor of the House at plenary, prayed that the House called on security agencies to, as a matter urgency, free the abducted 300 women.
According to Gimba, this is the second largest abduction after the Chibokgirls school kidnap by Boko Haram in April 2014
She said: ” Mr speaker, I want to bring to the notice of the House that about 300 women were abducted while fetching fire woods for domestic and commercial purposes in my constituency.
“I am calling on security agencies to, as a matter of urgency, see to the rescue of these women who went in search of their daily bread.
“Also note that this is the second largest abduction after the Chibokschool girls abduction that took place in 2014, while some of those girls are still in captivity.”
Speaking on the issue, the deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over plenary, described the incident as a sad one and called on security agencies to urgently rescue the abducted women.
“We as a House, are pained that the families of the abducted persons are going through what they are going through at the moment. By next week, Zainab, you will bring the matter up in way of a motion, so we know what your prayers are.
“In the spirit of Women’s Day celebration tomorrow (today), we pray that these women and those still in captivity be freed from their abductors.
“There is no better way to celebrate the day without calling for the protection and release of these women.”
VANGUARD
8th March, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: police
