Buhari: kidnapping threatens school enrollment

By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said the frequent kidnapping of school children threatens enrollment in educationally backwards states.

He was reacting to the abduction of an unspecified number of children from the Bethel Secondary School, Marmara, Chikun on the outskirts of Kaduna town yesterday.

According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President is concerned by the recurring abductions in Kaduna and Niger states.

He directed security and intelligence agencies to ensure the safe and early rescue of all victims of kidnapping in the country and advised state governments to give more attention to the United Nations (UN) Safe School Programme.

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The statement reads in part: “President Buhari Monday directed the military, police and intelligence agencies to ensure safe and early release of all kidnapped victims, expressing concern over attacks on Kaduna and Niger states, largely targeted at students.

“While noting ongoing deployment of additional security personnel to all troubled areas, the President urged security outfits to ‘act swiftly’ to rescue all school boys and girls in the affected states and ensure safe return.

“President Buhari said the disturbing incidents of kidnapping students, mostly in Northern states, was already threatening to undermine efforts in boosting school enrolments in states that were adjudged educationally backward.

“He called on state governments to ensure compliance with UN-supported Safe Schools Programme, which the administration had adopted.

“The President described kidnapping as cowardly and despicable, condemning it as an assault on affected families and the nation.”