Northern elders ask Tinubu to rescue abducted school children

• The group highlighted the broader issue of security in the country
  

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The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has strongly condemned the abduction of 287 students and teachers from GSS Kuriga and LEA Primary School in Kaduna State, labeling it an attack on education in Northern Nigeria.

In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof Tukur Muhammad-Baba, on Saturday, the ACF emphasized the vulnerability of school children and urged the Bola Tinubu-led government to promptly rescue the abducted individuals.

The group highlighted the broader issue of security in the country, citing previous incidents like the Federal University Gusau abduction in July last year. They called on the Federal Government to move beyond generic directives, urging concrete actions with specific timelines for results.

The statement reads in part; “The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is gravely saddened and exasperated at the news of the mass abduction by terrorists/bandits of about 312 students (20 of whom reportedly are orphans), from the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School and Junior Secondary School, along with a principal at Kuriga, Chikun local government area of Kaduna state, on Thursday, March 7th, 2024.

“As a sad reminder about their unabated presence, the terrorists struck again, attacked worshippers, and killed two persons during Friday prayers at Angwar Makera, Kwasakwasa Community in Birnin Gwari local government area, Kaduna state.

“Together, the incidents looked planned in advance, a most discomfiting reality, given the enormous public resources being allocated to the security sector.

“As ACF had observed in July, 2023, when students of the Federal University Gusau were abducted (and sadly still in captivity), these disturbing incidents point to the very parlous state of security in the country, and specifically that school children are a defensively vulnerable population.

“ACF unequivocally decries and condemns the incidents in strong terms and hereby: Calls for the immediate and unconditional return of the abducted students and pupils, unharmed, to their parents/guardians; Commiserates with the parents/ guardians of the pupils and students,” the statement added.