Executive Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai said his administration will not allow bandits and other criminal elements dictate the education of children in the State.
El-Rufai stated this on Wednesday when the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, paid him a courtesy visit.
The governor said he won’t pay any ransom to bandits despite threats of attacking and kidnappings school students, adding that schools in the state would remain open.
He said “for a long time, Nigerians have taken peace and security for granted until the current spate of insecurity afflicting the Nation.”
The governor continued that: “we will not pay a penny to any bandit and despite the threats of kidnapping, schools would continue to remain open. The decision to keep schools open was taken so as not to allow criminals to dictate the education of children in the State.”
He also said the security situation could have been worst if not for the efforts of the military, while coming on all Nigerians to support them in the fight of keeping the nation safe.
“The security situation could have been worse but for the efforts of our Armed Forces. The ability of the military to swiftly respond to kidnapping further gives the State the confidence to keep schools open,” he added.
Speaking on what governors in his region are doing, El-Rufai disclosed that he and others Governors in the North West Zone, had agreed to assist the military with employing scientific measures towards containing insecurity.
Recall that WITHIN NIGERIA reported that Kaduna ordered the closure of all public and private schools in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state following continuous attacks on schools by bandits.
This was contained in a memo signed by Abigail Adze, the Director Quality Assurance Authority, stating that the decision was taken in view of the security challenges in Kajuru LGA of the state.
The memo, dated March 16, was addressed to all principals of public and private schools, directing that the schools should close due to the prevailing security situation in the area.