The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, has asked President Bola Tinubu to explore every possible means to ensure safe release of the over 200 school children and their teachers abducted by terrorists in Kaduna State.
Obi said this on Friday in a series of posts on his X (formerly Twitter) handle while reacting to the recent abduction of over 200 school children and their teachers in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
No fewer than 232 students and teachers were reportedly kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be terrorists, locally dubbed as bandits in Kuriga village, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
It was gathered that the victims, including headteacher of the school and some other staff were kidnapped on Thursday morning from LGEA Primary School, Kuriga (1).
Confirming the incident was the former Kaduna senator, Shehu Sani, in a post on his X platform on Thursday, noting that the incident happened in the same village where a school principal, Idris Sufyan was killed and his wife kidnapped over a month ago.
Reacting to the incident, Obi asked President Tinubu to provide better security measures in the country as further terror attacks on schools across the country would aggravate insecurity and the number of out-of-school children, which according to him, was already over 18 million.
SaharaReporters on Thursday also reported that Obi decried the daily terrorists’ attacks across Nigeria, particularly the recent killing of no fewer than 50 people in Benue State and the abduction of over 100 internally displaced persons in Borno State.
Meanwhile on Friday, Obi said, “Just yesterday, I was lamenting the horrible spate of killings, terror attacks, and abductions in the country, while calling for more concerted efforts to combat the continuing menace of nationwide insecurity.
“We are again confronted with the ugly news of the abduction of over 200 pupils and students plus a teacher of local primary and junior secondary schools in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government area of Kaduna State.
“While every effort should be directed towards the safe release of the children, better security measures need to be implemented to avoid future occurrences.
“While insecurity has continued to bear down on every sector of our national existence, its negative impact on education will be more devastating for the nation.
“We are already contending with an army of over 18 million out-of-school children, arising from the closure of schools due to insecurity.”
He stressed that “Further attacks on schools will only aggravate these numbers, drive more children into the streets, and add to the insecurity situation of the country.
“I once again appeal to the government, both state and federal, to explore all possible means to ensure the safe release of the abducted school children and their teachers.
“I urge every Nigerian to continue to work and pray for the nation so that we can collectively conquer these unusual challenges. We must ensure that every Nigerian child can pursue their dreams and aspirations in a safe and secure nation.
“This is our duty in the New Nigeria which is possible.”
