The federal government of Nigeria has vows to rescue women and children abducted by bandits in Borno and Kaduna states, as state denies plan to negotiate with the hoodlums.
The Federal Government on Saturday condemned Monday’s abduction of Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Wurge Community in Borno and Thursday’s kidnap of school children at Kuriga community in Kaduna State and vowed to free the victims.
Government also vowed to bring the assailants to justice.
Terrorists abducted not less than 40 girls and women on Monday when they struck three IDP camps in Ngala in Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area of Borno.
A security source said the victims went to fetch firewood from the bush when the insurgents whisked them away from the Babban Sansani camp, Zulum Camp and Arabic camp.
On Thursday, assailants attacked Kuriga community located on Kaduna Birnin-Gwari Road in Kaduna State, abducted more than 100 pupils including the head teacher in a primary school and took away 187 students from a secondary school.
Reacting to the abductions, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris, stated that they were utterly unacceptable and went against all fundamental values of humanity.
“Government stands resolutely against any form of violence or coercion targeted at innocent civilians, especially the most vulnerable among us.
“Our children deserve to seek education in conditions devoid of harm or threat of harm, and any threat to their security is a direct attack on the future of our country.
“While extending heartfelt sympathies to families and communities affected by these distressing events, President Bola Tinubu has directed security agencies to swiftly ensure the safe return of all abducted persons, and the arrest of perpetrators.
“Government will spare no effort in the pursuit of justice for the victims and in its determination to hold perpetrators of such heinous acts accountable to the full extent of the law,’’ Idris stressed.
The minister urged the public to remain calm but vigilant, and to provide relevant information that might assist security agencies to free the victims and arrest the assailants.
According to him, collective action and solidarity are essential for Nigeria to effectively combat the menace of banditry, insurgency, and insecurity.
“Government reaffirms its unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and property of citizens.
“It will continue to work very hard to ensure that the capacity of criminals to launch attacks is constantly and irreversibly degraded,’’ the minister stressed.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna state government has denied hiring a private negotiator to facilitate the release of the school children.
“We did not hire private negotiator to free abducted school children” –
The State Government on Saturday dismissed a report that it hired a private negotiator to facilitate the safe return of children abducted from Kuriga community on Thursday as false and mischievous.
Assailants attacked the community located on the Kaduna Birnin-Gwari Road, abducted 100 pupils including the head teacher in a primary school and took away 187 students from a secondary school.
“The attention of Kaduna State Government has been drawn to the outright mischievous and false report by a newspaper on Saturday,’’ Mr Muhammad Shehu, media aide to Gov. Uba Sani, stated.
“The report stated that the state government has hired a private negotiator to facilitate the safe return of school children abducted in Kuriga community in Chikun Local Government Area.
“We wish to state categorically that the Kaduna State Government did not hire any private negotiator; neither is it contemplating to make such move.
“The Kaduna State Government has a clear policy on non-negotiation with terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.
“We urge the press to be cautious in the way they craft their stories on security matters so as not to jeopardise government’s efforts at degrading criminals laying siege to our communities,’’ Shehu added.