A week after armed persons invaded Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State, the abducted students are yet to regain their freedom. Forty-two persons, including 27 school children, 3 staff and 12 family members of staff of the school were abducted in the early hours of Wednesday, February 17, with one student killed in the course of the attack. This incident came three days after the abduction of 21 passengers travelling from Kontagora to Minna in the State. Following the attack, the Niger State government ordered the immediate closure of boarding schools within Rafi, Mariga, Munya and Shiroro Local Government Areas of the State, until the security situation in the State improves. The State Governor, Abubakar Sani-Bello called for assistance from the Federal Government and stated that the government was making efforts to rescue the victims, including facilitating negotiations with the bandits.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres reacting to the incident, reiterated that attacks on schools and educational facilities are abhorrent and unacceptable. The Nigeria representative of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Peter Hawkins, who stated that children should feel safe at home and at school at all times, called for the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted students.
In a related development, 53 passengers, including the 21 passengers abducted a week ago were released on Sunday, February 21, and handed over to the Niger State government. According to the State government, plans are underway to secure the release of the Kagara students, staff and their family members.
The abduction of the school children is coming barely two months after over 300 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State were taken hostage by gunmen. The series of unrepelled violent attacks by armed gangs across the country is worrying and is indicative of Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation. Following a debate in the Senate on the abduction of the students in Kagara, the legislators called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on insecurity in Nigeria. The Senate also called on the President to consider the report of the Ad-hoc Committee on Nigeria Security Challenges adopted on March 17, 2020, and implement the resolutions stated therein, with a view to tackling the growing spate of insecurity.