The past few days have seen a series of kidnapping incidents at educational institutions in Kaduna and some other States north of Nigeria. On Thursday, March 11, several students were kidnapped by bandits from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. With the Nigerian army reported to have rescued 180 persons, 39 students are still missing. On the heels of this development, came the abduction of pupils and teachers from UBE Primary School in Rama village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Monday, March 15.
The incidence of abductions in schools across several northern States is raising concern, as it would appear that the terrorist group, Boko Haram now actually has the meaning of its name playing out – “Book is Forbidden.” Bandits, kidnappers and criminal elements appear to have escalated the enterprise of kidnapping to industrial levels. It started with State governments negotiating earlier kidnap incidents by these bandits and making ransom payments for release of victims. From Katsina, to Niger to Kaduna to Zamfara and many more States, government revenues meant for development are now being channeled to pay ransoms to armed bandits who now smile to the bank with incredible loot. Indeed, it is even unclear the extent of these payments and unverified what sums are paid to the bandits and what sums are kept back by government kidnap negotiators. The President has asked governors to stop paying ransom to the bandits. Indeed, the government of Kaduna State has outrightly stated that it will not pay ransom to the bandits. It is certainly clear that if the business of kidnap becomes unprofitable for the bandits, the trend will halt. The country waits.