.Borno, military strategise to rescue 89 remaining schoolgirls
Impact House Centre for Development Communication finds it difficult to accept the persistent insecurity in Nigerian schools, a decade after the tragic abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State.
But the Borno State government and security agencies are strategising to rescue the 89 Chibok schoolgirls still in captivity of Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa Forest.
Executive Director, ImpactHouse, John Andah, said despite promises of reform and increased security measures, more incidents, including the 2021 kidnapping of over 300 school boys in Kankara, still occur.
He said: “Failure of the Nigerian government to secure schools in the country, even 10 years after the Chibok incident is unacceptable, considering the government’s constitutional responsibility to protect citizens and the country’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially number four, which emphasises equitable quality education and life-long learning for all.
According to him, the recent abduction of 287 students from Government Secondary School, Kuriga, Kaduna State, and the abduction of 17 pupils from a boarding school in GidanBakuso, Sokoto State, highlight the government’s ineffectiveness in addressing the root of such attacks and implementing sustainable solutions.
“Though over 130 victims from Kaduna and the victims from Sokoto have since been freed, there is still no information available on the remaining abductees. The recent spate of school kidnappings across Nigeria underscores the urgent need for concrete action to safeguard the nation’s educational institutions,” he noted.
The group’s Outreach Communications Specialist, Chinomso Momoh, said: “It is troubling to observe that Nigerian schools have remained largely insecure since the horrific events of April 14, 2014, when terrorists kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State.
“Every child has the right to learn in a safe environment, free from fear and intimidation, and the government must mobilise all available resources to secure our schools and the release of everyone still in captivity.”
The Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof Usman Tar, disclosed the state government’s plan, yesterday, at an event to mark the 10th anniversary of the abduction of 276 Chibok schoolgirls on April 14, 2014, by Boko Haram.
According to him, the state government shall continue to struggle to rescue the remaining abducted girls on behalf of parents and relatives of the Chibok community.
He also noted the pains and anguish of the families of those still in captivity in the forest and Lake Chad region.
Besides being hopeful and determined, the information boss added: “With the combined efforts of our security forces, intelligence agencies, and community support, all the abducted persons will be safely returned to their families. We will not rest until every missing person is found and returned home safely.”
