The Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party's candidates in the February 25 election, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, have shown their happiness about the rescue of the kidnapped schoolchildren in Kaduna State.
Both of them shared their thoughts in separate messages posted on their respective social media accounts on Sunday.
Approximately 287 schoolchildren and some staff of the LEA School, Kuriga in the Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna, were taken by bandits on Thursday, March 7, on the school premises. abducted The abductors then asked for a ransom of N1 billion for their release, setting a deadline of March 27, 2024, for the payment.
However, the Defence Headquarters announced on Sunday that troops rescued the kidnapped pupils and teachers within Zamfara State with support from local authorities and government agencies.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen. Edward Buba said, “The rescued hostages totalling 137 comprise of 76 females and 61 males were rescued in Zamfara State and would be conveyed and handed over to the Kaduna State Government for further action.”
Obi, a former Anambra State Governor, expressed in a tweet that it was “comforting” to hear the news of the rescue and added that efforts should be made to rescue other captives across several kidnappers’ dens in the country.
He also called for an end to the “scourge of insecurity completely.”
His tweets read, “It is comforting to hear that 287 school children abducted in Kaduna have been released. It is hard to imagine the mental pain and trauma the children must have gone through in the hands of their abductors.
“The report of their release is, however, reassuring to the nation and their parents. I thank the government, the security agencies, and all those who made immense efforts to see that our children are released from captivity and reunited with their families.
“Efforts should also be made, not just to release many of our people in the different kidnappers dens across the country, but to also end the scourge of insecurity completely.”
The LP presidential candidate added, “We must ensure that every Nigerian is safe in Nigeria by not giving terrorists any operating space in our nation. No Nigerian should ever be a captive or hostage anywhere in his fatherland.
“I encourage every Nigerian, in the midst of these dark and fearful nights in our nation where danger seems to be lurking on every corner, to remain hopeful for the new dawn of a secure and safe nation – the New Nigeria which is possible.”
Abubakar stated that he was delighted “at the news of the release of the 287 abducted school children in Kaduna after 16 days in captivity.”
He also praised “all those who worked tirelessly to make their release a reality,” noting that “like stage four cancer,” the nation’s insecurity which is spreading, “needs proactive measures to stem it.”
He also mentioned, “I can only imagine the trauma that these vulnerable children have suffered. It is recommended that the children receive psychotherapic care by professionals.”
The former vice president said that we don't need to wait for the next incident to put measures in place to prevent it.
He suggests strengthening the Safe School Initiative to protect schools, especially in vulnerable areas where school children are likely to be kidnapped. He also recommends a complete restructuring of the security system to address the current threats.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu
applauded the release of the Kuriga schoolchildren and the pupils of a Tsangaya school in Sokoto State and praised all parties involved for their brave efforts. welcomed Tinubu’s statement, titled ‘President Tinubu welcomes release of Kuriga school children, said schools must be safe and secure for learning,’ was signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidates of the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party in the February 25 election, respectively, expressed their joy at the rescue of the abducted schoolchildren in Kaduna State. They communicated their sentiments in separate messages posted on their respective X handles on Sunday. About […]
