President Bola Tinubu has condemned the abduction of some internally displaced persons in Borno State and students in Kaduna State.
Tinubu has directed security and intelligence agencies to immediately rescue the victims and ensure that justice is served against the perpetrators.
This was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, and shared on his Facebook page on Friday.
Many of those abducted from the IDP camps in Gamboru Ngala local government area of Borno State are said to be women, boys and girl
The exact number of the abductees remains unknown but is estimated at over 200 people.
TheNiche had earlier reported that terrorists, on Thursday morning, stormed LGEA Primary School, Kuriga (1), Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, and kidnapped about 285 pupils and teachers.
It was gathered that the incident happened at about 8:20 am immediately after the school’s morning assembly.
In the statement by Ngelale, Tinubu was quoted as saying, “I have received briefing from security chiefs on the two incidents, and I am confident that the victims will be rescued.
“Nothing else is acceptable to me and the waiting family members of these abducted citizens. Justice will be decisively administered.”
Tinubu sympathises with the families of the victims, assuring them that they will soon be reunited with their loved ones.
A teacher at the school, Sani Abdullahi, who gave a firsthand account of what happened, disclosed that one person was killed while about 287 students and pupils as well as their teachers were abducted by the bandits.
He gave the figure when the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, alongside government officials, visited the area on Thursday evening.
Abdullahi said a member of the Kaduna State Vigilante Service (KADVS) was killed by the bandits while 187 students and 125 pupils were missing, totaling 312 students.
He however, added that 25 pupils from the primary school later escaped and returned home, leaving the number of the abducted at 287.
“At GSS Kuriga, 187 students are presently missing. In the primary school, 125 pupils were initially missing, but 25 of them escaped and retired home,” Abdullahi told the governor.
Narrating exactly how the incident happened, he said he resumed work by 7:47am and entered the Acting Principal’s office to sign the staff register.
“All of a sudden, the Acting Principal asked me to look at my back and when I turned, we discovered that bandits had surrounded the school premises.
“We became confused. We didn’t know where to go. Then, the bandits ordered us to enter the bush, so we obeyed them because they were many.
“So, when we entered the bush, I was lucky to escape alongside many other people. I returned to the village and reported what happened to the community.
“Immediately our vigilante and personnel of Kaduna Vigilante Service (KADVS) followed the bandits, but the vigilante did not succeed. The bandits killed one of the vigilante, we just buried him a short while ago.
“It was when we came back that we briefed the Village Head and we started making efforts to find out the actual number of pupils and teachers taken by the bandits.”
Speaking during the visit, Governor Uba Sani, said he was saddened by news of the incident.
“Since I received the sad news of this incident, I have not had any rest of mind because every child in Kaduna State is my child. So, I don’t want you people to be disturbed.
“Let’s us pray to God to help and on our part as a government, we will not rest until these children return home,” the governor told the community.”
Sani promised to establish a Police Station and build a permanent camp for the military in the community.
He said he had briefed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, about the incident, adding that efforts were being made to deploy security forces to rescue the children.
“We will do whatever we need to do to ensure the safe return of these children, even if it means coming to Kuriga to stay with you,” the governor assured.
