President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that his administration will ensure that schools become safer and secure for teaching and learning.
This is stated in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Sunday in Abuja.
Ngelale said that the President reiterated the pledge when he received the news of the release of the Kuriga schoolchildren in Kaduna State.
Recall bandits on March 7 abducted 287 pupils and teachers at Local Government Education Authority Teachers Primary School, Kuriga, in Chikun Local Government Area of the State.
The bandits had on Tuesday demanded for one billion Naira ransom for the release of the children through a contact.
Security agencies have, however, been on their heels since Tinubu directed the immediate release of the victims safe and without any ransom.
The President emphasised the importance of collaboration between the federal government and states for expected outcomes, especially on matters of security.
Tinubu commended the National Security Adviser, the security agencies, and the Kaduna State Government for the dispatch and diligence with which they handled the situation.
He noted that urgency, meticulous attention and tireless dedication are critical to optimal outcomes in cases of mass abductions.
“President Tinubu also welcomes the release of pupils of a Tsangaya school in Sokoto State, commending all the parties to the feat for their valiant effort.
“The President assures Nigerians that his administration is deploying detailed strategies to ensure that our schools remain safe sanctuaries of learning, not lairs for wanton abductions,” Ngelale said.
How to forestall kidnap of schoolchildren – Atiku
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he is elated at the news of the release of the 287 abducted school children in Kaduna after 16 days in captivity.
In a statement on Sunday, Atiku commended all those who worked tirelessly to make the release of the schoolchildren a reality.
While stressing that the next incident of schoolchildren kidnap should not happen before mechanisms to forestall it are put in place, the former Vice President urged the federal government to strengthen the Safe School Initiative that prioritises the protection of schools.
Atiku wrote: “As we celebrate with their families and friends, let’s be mindful that, like stage four cancer, this state of insecurity that has befallen our nation is metastasising and needs proactive measures to stem it.
“I can only imagine the trauma that these vulnerable children have suffered. It is recommended that the children receive psychotherapic care by professionals.
“We also do not need to wait for the next incident before putting mechanisms in place to forestall it.
“To this end, I recommend the strengthening of the Safe School Initiative that prioritises the protection of schools, especially in the areas that are most vulnerable to mass kidnap of school children.
“But above all, there should be an overhaul of the security architecture to meet the demands of the threats facing us”.
How Kuriga students were rescued – DHQ
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says the abducted Kuriga students were rescued through coordinated search and rescue operation conducted by the military in collaboration with local authorities and government agencies.
The primary and secondary school students abducted on March 7, were rescued in the early hour of Sunday.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
He said a total of 137 persons comprising 76 females and 61 male were rescued in Zamfara.
According to him, they would be conveyed and handed over to the Kaduna State Government for further action.
“Relatedly, it would be recalled that on March 21, troops equally rescued 16 pupils (Almajiris) with a woman taken hostage in Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
“These hostages were handed over to the Sokoto State Government.
“These efforts demonstrate the armed forces resolve to finding other innocent hostages and track down the terrorists that perpetrated these crimes.
“These efforts would continue until other hostages are found and the terrorists arrested, tried, and brought to justice by Nigerian law.
“Troops are employing similar effort to track down the culprits responsible for the killing of 18 soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta State.
“Justice await the culprits, as they can not go unpunished,” he said.