The kidnapped schoolgirls of Government Secondary School in Jangebe, Zamfara State have been released and are currently in the palace of the Emir of Anka waiting for transportation to Gusau, the state capital.
A very competent source had informed our correspondent on Saturday that negotiations with the bandits who kidnapped the schoolgirls had reached a very advanced stage, saying “they may be in Gusau today.”
The girls who were kidnapped on Friday were believed to have been taken to a forest by bandits who reportedly disguised as security personnel.
A source said the girls were kept in the forest between Dangulbi and Sabon Birnin Banaga in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The incident was the latest mass kidnapping for ransom by armed gangs in the North in recent weeks.
A week earlier, bandits had kidnapped dozens of pupils and workers of Government Science College in Kagara, Niger State.
The abductees were released on Saturday.
Bandits had also last December kidnapped over 300 schoolboys from Government Science Secondary School in Kankara, Katsina State.
The state government which had earlier expressed optimism that the girls would return soon, however, refused to either confirm or deny the rumours that it reached a truce with the abductors concerning their release.
Meanwhile, The National Association of Nigerian Students on Sunday urged the Federal Government to declare and treat abductors of schoolchildren as terrorists.
NANS National President, Sunday Asefon, who said the incessant kidnapping of pupils particularly Friday’s abduction of over 300 schoolgirls in Zamfara State was an indictment on the failure of our nation’s security apparatus to withstand the threat of terrorists, called for a change of approach.
Asefon made the call in a statement titled, ‘NANS frowns at incessant kidnapping of school kids, says security of students no longer guaranteed, calls on Federal Government to treat school kidnappers as terrorists’ made available in Ado Ekiti.
This was as the Chairman of NANS/Joint Campus Committee, Ekiti Axis, Felix Olanrewaju, disclosed readiness of the body to partner police, Department of State Services and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps on the need to ensure safety of students in Ekiti.
Olanrewaju said at a press conference in Ado Ekiti that he had met with the leaderships of the security agencies on the need to be on the alert to prevent the abductors from sneaking into Ekiti, adding, “We expect the state and federal governments to focus more attention on insecurity like they are doing for COVID-19, because insecurity is really tormenting our country”.
Asefon, who lamented the quick successions of the kidnapping of schoolchildren, said, “The event of recent time has made it expedient for the government to change its approach to the scourge of school kidnap especially in the North, it is therefore imperative for the kidnappers to be declared as terrorists and treated as such”.
While saying the experiences from Chibok, Dapchi, Kagara and Jangebe, were indicators that the governments at all levels had failed, the NANS President said, “These gale of Kidnappings have become one case too many and the fact that these kidnaps happened without any form of opposition from the security apparatus calls for serious concern.
“The emotional trauma on the kids even when released is long-term and unquantifiable; it may have a lasting influence on their perspective about school and education. Well-meaning Nigerians must be very concerned about this recent development.
“The nation currently faces multi-dimensional security challenges and continuous threats to the safety and security of our schools and this can no longer be tolerated. We will not hesitate to undertake any civil disobedience action to ensure every stakeholder is doing nothing less than their best to ensure the prompt release of our students.
“The NANS National Secretariat shall be relocated to Zamfara State, if the schoolgirls are not rescued within the next 72 hours to solidarize with the schoolgirls and ensure that the government at all levels are doing everything possible for the timely release of the schoolgirls.
NANS calls on the citizens to collaborate with security outfits in the area of local intelligence gathering to forestall the re-occurrence of this ugly incident while encouraging the security agencies of living up to the billings of making our schools safe for students and staff”, Asefon said.
Meanwhile, Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have commenced a coordinated search and rescue operation, involving the deployment of both ground and aerial assets, aimed at locating and rescuing the students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara State, abducted in the early hours of Friday, 25th February, 2021.
Force Spokesman Frank Mba a Commissioner of Police disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen over the weekend.
To ensure the success of the ongoing operation, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu has ordered the immediate deployment of two (2) operational surveillance helicopters to Zamfara State. This is in addition to the personnel of Operation Puff Adder II earlier deployed to the State to support efforts by the Command to combat banditry, kidnapping and other related crimes.
The IGP, while condemning the barbaric and callous abduction of the innocent female students, has assured that the Police and other security forces will not relent until the abducted students are successfully rescued and reunited with their families. The joint rescue operation is being carried out by the Police, the Military and other members of the law enforcement community with support from the State Government and other Stakeholders.
The IGP has called for calm and enjoins members of the public, particularly the people of Zamfara State, not to hesitate in availing the Police and the law enforcement community with useful information that can assist in the rescue of the abducted school girls.
Meanwhile Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state has said that the abducted students of Government Science Secondary School, Jangebe, will be released very soon.
Matawalle stated this in Gusau on Sunday while receiving the federal government delegation which was in the state for sympathy visit over the abduction of the children.
“We are using the leaders of the repentant bandits to rescue the schoolgirls from the kidnappers.
“Very soon we are going to witness the release of the abductees”, the governor said
He said his administration “is going to continue with peace process with bandits considering its impacts in addressing security challenges facing the state”.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for sending the delegation to symphathise the state over what he described as “ugly act”.
