The governor of Kaduna state, Senator Uba Sani, has received the recently released students of LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School, Kuriga, who were abducted about four weeks ago. The governor said he was glad to see the released children and that they were “in high spirit” when he visited them on Sunday evening.
The Governor added that the children will be formally handed over to him on Monday afternoon after which they will be hosted to a dinner at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim house, Kaduna.
He also said the students will continue to undergo psychosocial counseling and proper medical supervision for to help get their mental and physical wellbeing to the optimum.
Speaking on the mode of the rescue, the governor sought to address the rumours of a purported ransom payment and the alleged involvement of Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, who had volunteered to negotiate with the abductors. The governor called them mere speculations, saying “all those speculations you are hearing today are figments of some people’s imagination. I can tell you that without any fear of contradiction.
“There was nothing like Gumi in this operation. I can tell you. I won’t undermine the efforts of our Armed Forces.”
Governor Sani also clarified there were 137 abducted schoolchildren, and not 287 as reported by some sections of the media.
Sani lamented that a teacher who was kidnapped alongside the pupils couldn’t make it out alive as he developed some complications while in captivity.
He commiserated with the family of the deceased teacher and consoled the families of the released schoolchildren.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson of Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, called for a proper medical and shock checks on the released school children.
In a statement, Suleiman said “the news of the return of the abducted Kuriga school children is undoubtedly a ray of hope in what has been a dark period for the community. As elders, we welcome the children back with open arms and rejoice in their safe return.
“However, we must not let this joy overshadow the urgent need for the proper medical and shock checks to be accorded to the children as they reintegrate into society.
“This school abduction is one too many, and the Northern Elders Forum strongly declares that enough is enough. The safety and security of our children should not be something that is up for negotiation. It is unacceptable for Nigerians, particularly those in the northern region, to continue living under such insecure conditions.
“It is unfortunate that barely months into the Tinubu administration, there have already been clear signs of failure in the vital area of providing security of life and property to citizens.
“The return of the Kuriga school children is a testament to the resilience and strength of our community. But it should also serve as a wake-up call to all of us. We cannot afford to become complacent in the face of such brazen acts of violence and disregard for human life.
“As elders, it is our duty to protect and nurture the next generation. We must work together with the government and relevant authorities to ensure that our children can go to school without fear and that their safety and well-being are always a top priority.
“While we celebrate the return of the abducted Kuriga school children, we must also demand accountability and action from our leaders. The security of our children and our communities must be prioritized above all else.”
