By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Finally, senators are fed up with bandits holding Nigerians to ransom and have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently declare a state of emergency on insecurity nationwide, sequel to the latest abduction in the North Central.
The lawmakers vehemently condemned the abduction of students and teachers of Government Science School, Kagara, Niger State on Wednesday; baring their minds in a resolution based on a motion sponsored by Senator Mohammed Musa (APC, Niger East).
Senate President Ahmad Lawan stressed the need for the military and security agencies to collaborate with state governments to secure schools in the North where cases of abduction for ransom are rising unchecked.
“I believe that there is need for something new; a different initiative on especially how to protect our schools. And, let me be a little bit clear about the incident of abducting students from schools,” Lawan began.
He added: “Almost all incidents of abducting students from schools happen in Northern Nigeria, and we all know how much efforts our leaders of yesterday, probably right from independence, worked so hard to ensure that children go to school in the Northern part of Nigeria.
“With incidents like this, we will be reversing all the gains that were made in convincing parents and wards to take their children to school.
“So, there’s need for our security agencies and government to ensure that we come up with a strategy of ensuring security in schools, because with this spate of kidnapping or abductions, definitely there’ll be that negative adverse effect on the desire and willingness of parents to allow their children to go to schools.
“And, the consequences of not going to school are better imagined in 21st century Nigeria or 21st century world.
“So, the service chiefs-designate have their work clearly cut out for them. Part of what they are supposed to carry on board is how to secure our schools in addition to so many other challenges that they have to deal with.
“I believe that the states have to be carried along, because the schools belong to the states. So, that partnership and cooperation between the security agencies and the states must be adhered to, so that the states cooperate fully with security agencies of government.
“With that, the whole country will be praying and waiting for our abducted children to be returned back to their parents secured and well.”
Musa’s motion
A statement issued by Lawan’s Press Assistant, Ezrel Tabiowo, said Musa noted “with sadness, and great concern” in his motion “the recent terrorist attack and abduction of [the] students … by gunmen in the early hours of today.
“The bandits were dressed in military uniforms when they attacked the boarding school, overpowered the security guards before whisking away the students, and killing some which numbers are to yet to be confirmed.
“The exact number of students kidnapped [is] not yet known as headcount was being conducted in the school as we speak to ascertain the actual number of missing students; but the school has a population of over 1,000 students.
“The security agencies were able to detect the coordinates of the area the students were taken to, and have started tracing the bandits’ movement while security aircraft have been seen hovering in the air to track the location of the students.
“Section 14 (2) (b) of the Constitution … stipulates that the welfare and security of citizens shall be the primary responsibility of government; thus government at all levels owe the people the duty to provide adequate security.
“The recent attack and abduction of school children at Government Science School, Kagara, Niger State is coming on the heels of yet to be resolved Kankara abduction of 300 students which took place at Government Science School, Kankara, Katsina State, Chibok Girls in 2014, and abduction of about 100 school girls at Government Girls Science and Technical School, Dapchi, Yobe State in 2018.
“Concerned that like the other incidents of school children abduction that took place in Chibok and Dapchi, several years back, if no immediate action is taken to rescue Kagara School Students, their fate may be sealed in the hands of terrorists.
“Further worried that Niger, Katsina and many other states in [the] North West and North Central Nigeria are now bedeviled by bandit attacks. The bandits kill and kidnap at will despite the large deployment of police officers and soldiers to the affected states.
“On Sunday, 14th February 2021, many commuters and passengers numbering 57 were abducted in Kundu, all within the same area and yet to be released.”