President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday night raised the alarm the frequent abduction of school children is threatening government’s strategy to boost school enrollment in educationally backward States.
Buhari spoke while reacting to the kidnapping of unspecified number of school children from Bethel Secondary School, Marmara, Chikun on the outskirts of Kaduna town on Monday.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President particularly lamented the unprecedented number of kidnapping incidences in Kaduna and Niger States in recent times.
While directing security and intelligence agencies to ensure the safe and early rescue of all victims of kidnapping in the country, the President advised State governments to give more attention to the United Nations (UN) Safe School Programme.
“President Muhammadu 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,” the statement reads.
