No clues yet as bandits hold on to 502 abductees
Bandits who, over the weekend abducted 502 persons, including women and children, are still holding on to their captives. They were all abducted within a period of 48 hours at different locations.
About 287 pupils and teachers were abducted at a primary and secondary school premises at Kuriga, in Kaduna State.
Also about 200 women were abducted from an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Borno State while 15 pupils of an Islamiya school in Sokoto were also kidnapped by the bandits.
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The bandits have continued to terrorise communities in different parts of Northern Nigeria despite clampdown by troops in military operations.
Assurances of timely rescue of the abductees by the federal government and the security agencies have so far remained unfulfilled.
Nigerians have been apprehensive over the fate of the victims considering the harsh climate and weather conditions in may parts of the country.
Also concerning is the report that the bandits who abducted the Kaduna school children are using them as human shields thereby making it difficult for the security agencies to launch attacks in a bid to rescue them.
The federal government has condemned the abductions vowing to ensure the safe return of all the victims and to arrest the perpetrators.
President Bola Tinubu had issued marching orders to security agencies, emphasising the paramount importance of securing the lives of citizens.
Vice-President Senator Kashim Shettima reiterated the President’s commitment to rescuing the abducted schoolchildren, urging media restraint to safeguard the children’s security.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has also cautioned against politicising the situation, emphasising the priority of securing the children’s safe return.
The Kaduna state government has also debunked reports it had hired a private negotiator for the release of the abducted school children, reaffirming its stance against negotiating with criminal elements.
On the 15 pupils abducted in Sokoto State, the Governor, Ahmed Sokoto has unveiled the Sokoto State Community Guards Corps to complement the efforts of the federal security agencies.
The governor highlighted the importance of community involvement in securing the state and checkmating the activities of criminal elements.
The initiative has received support from traditional leaders and governors in neighbouring states, signaling a unified approach to combating insecurity in the region.
