Lai taunts #BringBackOurBoys campaigners, says they can now go home

Nigeria’s minister of information, Lai Mohammed has taunted people campaigning for the release of the secondary school students abducted in Katsina.

Harshtag, #BringBackOurBoys trended on social media hours after the abduction of over 300 students at Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina.

The abduction has brought many protesters to the streets in different parts of the country to call for the rescue of the Kankara schoolboys.

The national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus in Abuja led a #BringBackOurBoys protest.

But addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Mohammed said the Buhari administration moved speedily to rescue the captives.

“We hope those who have started trading and politicking with the hashtag ‘BringBackOurBoys’ can now go home, as our boys have been brought back, even before their dubious campaign could take off,” he said.

“The release of these school boys is a testament to the importance that this administration attaches to the security and safety of all Nigerians.

“There is no government in the world that will not face the challenges of security at one time or another.

“No government in the world is immune to terrorist attacks. What stands any government out is the way and manner it responds to such challenges.”

Mohammed said the Buhari administration would do everything possible to prevent a recurrence of these abductions, adding that the government is working to ensure that the remaining students in Chibok, Borno state and Dapchi, Yobe state, are brought back home.

The minister expressed dismay that some Nigerians “denigrated” the government and country over the Kankara incident.

“We also make bold to say that we have moved with speed and determination each time we have faced the challenge of school abductions, and the results attest to this,” he said.

“Each time this has happened, we have always accepted responsibility, rather than being in denial. And that has made all the difference in whether or not the abducted school children have been recovered.”