.Declare state of emergency on security, Senate tells Buhari
, Measures in place to ensure safe release of abducted Kagara students—FG
President Muhammadu Buhari has received reports of the brazen attack on Government Science College, Kagara, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, following which a yet to be ascertained number of staff and students have been abducted by gunmen.
Following these reports, the President has directed the Armed Forces and Police, to ensure immediate and safe return of all the captives.
The President has also dispatched to Minna, Niger State capital, a team of security chiefs to coordinate the rescue operation and meet with state officials, community leaders, as well as parents and staff of the College.
President Buhari has assured of the support of his administration to the Armed Forces in their brave struggle against terrorism and banditry and urged them to do all that can be done to bring an end to this saga, and avoid such cowardly attacks on schools in the future.
“Our prayers are with families of the victims of this attack,” said the President as he condemned as cowardly the attack on innocent school children.
Meanwhile,the Senate on Wednesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on insecurity in the country.
The resolution follows a motion by Senator Sani Musa on the abduction of students from the Government Science College Kagara Niger state.
Senator Bima Enagi from Niger State in his contribution, accused the President of incompetence as the security situation is worsening in the country.
He argued that the constitution should be amended to give governors more powers as they are the security officers in their states because the Federal government is incompetent in handling security.
Gunmen at about 2:00 am on Wednesday attacked the school shooting sporadically, with one student feared killed and several others abducted.
Some teachers and their family members residing within the college staff quarters were also said to have been abducted by the gunmen.
A government source who pleaded anonymity disclosed this to Channels Television via telephone conversation in the early hours of Wednesday.
The operations started from the staff quarters and ended in the students’ hostels and in the process, other students were also wounded by gunshots.
The gunmen gathered some staff and students at a place for hours before moving them out of the school premises to an unknown destination.
.Measures in place to ensure safe release of abducted Kagara students—FG
Federal Government says measures are already in place to ensure the safe release of the abducted students, some staff and members of their families in Government Science College Kagara.
The Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed stated this when he led the Federal Government delegation to the State for a first hand information of what had happened.
Alhaji Mohammed who noticed that the State government has already swung into action, endorsed the steps taken and stressed that Federal Government will not surrender its sovereignty to criminals but reassured the people of the State in particular and Nigeria in general that no stone will be left unturned to ensure the safety of all.
The National Security Adviser to the President retired Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno said both kinetic and non- kinetic approach will be used to secure the release of the students and others adding that there will be a confluence of efforts both political as well as military to resolve the issue.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari is resolved and determined to apply whatever it takes to ensure safety of lives and property in the country.
Also speaking, the Inspector General (IG) of Police Mohammed Abubakar Adamu said a lot of strategy has been put in place to deal with the situation adding the rate of Banditry and Kidnappings in the country has remained an issue of concern to the Federal Government.
The IGP stated that the Police is working, in synergy with other security agencies within the communities to ensure that the kidnapped students as well as others travelling along Zungeru-Kontagora road are freed unharmed.
He said the Force will reinforce the strategy deployed in the release of Kankara Students in Katsina State to aslo achieve the same feat in addition to using it’s constitutional approach to tackle the situation.
In order to ensure the state is kept peaceful and the criminals dealt with, the IGP said the police has deployed four units of Mobile Police Force men to the state and is working with the Department of State Security Service (DSS) to reinforce security.
Earlier, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello had briefed the delegation on the security situation and the efforts made so far to ensure the safe return of the students and others that have been abducted.
He expressed delight over the prompt action taking by the Federal Government on the incidents and said he is hopeful that the abducted people will be released soon.
The Federal Government’s delegation included Ministers of Information Lai Mohammed, Interior Rauf Aregbesola and Police Affair Mohammed Maigari Dingydi as well as National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno and Inspector General (IG) of Police Mohammed Abubakar Adamu.
