Day 4 of Kebbi schoolgirls’ abduction: Govt releases list of 25 kidnapped girls as Tinubu cancels foreign trip, awaits further security briefing

AKOR SYLVESTER with agency reports

Hussaini Aliyu, the Chairman of Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area,in Kebbi State, has released the identities of the 25 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga.

Aliyu disclosed on Wednesday that all the abducted students are Muslims, urging the lawmaker to refrain from making unverified statements that could inflame religious or ethnic tensions at a time when government efforts are focused on rescuing the girls.

Aliyu then dismissed claims by US lawmaker Riley Moore that the abduction occurred in a Christian area.

He noted that the Maga community, under the Zuru Emirate, has never experienced a religious crisis and questioned why the US lawmaker would make remarks that portray Nigeria negatively.

Following the latest security breaches in the country, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has postponed his scheduled trip to Johannesburg, South Africa and  Luanda, Angola, as he awaits further security briefings on the kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls and the attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.

This was made known to the media by his special assistant on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.

In response to the request by the governor of Kwara State, President Tinubu has ordered the deployment of more security men to Eruku and the entire Ekiti Local Government Area of the state, and directed the police to go after the bandits who attacked worshippers.

President Tinubu was scheduled to leave Abuja today to attend the 20th G20 Summit of leaders in South Africa and thereafter proceed to Luanda to attend the 7th AU-EU Summit.

Disturbed by the security breaches in Kebbi State and Monday’s attack by bandits against worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, President Tinubu decided to suspend his departure.

He now awaits reports from Vice President Kashim Shettima, who paid a sympathy visit to Kebbi on his behalf, as well as reports from the police and the Department of State Services regarding the attack in Kwara.

President Tinubu reiterates his directive to the security agencies to do everything possible to rescue the 24 schoolgirls, abducted by the bandits and bring the girls back home, safe.

Meanwhile, The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has strongly condemned the reported attack on a Government Girls School in the Maga community of Kebbi State, in Northwest Nigeria, which resulted in the death of the school’s Vice-Principal and the reported abduction of 25 students.

UNICEF said the tragic incident is yet another stark reminder of the urgent need to protect children, schools and the personnel they rely upon to learn safely.

“We stand with the affected community at this difficult time, our heartfelt condolences go to those who have lost their loved ones, and we wish for a full recovery for those injured

The fund further urged the swift release of the abducted children, saying: “Students, education facilities, and their personnel should be protected under international law from any form of attack, and those responsible for this incident must be held to account in accordance with national and international standards”.

It further said that: “In 2015, the Nigerian government endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration, which outlines concrete steps to safeguard the civilian nature of schools and universities to ensure safe access of students to education during conflict”.

UNICEF called on all relevant stakeholders to continue efforts to implement the Safe Schools Declaration in Nigeria.

The fund said it is working with government partners, civil society and communities to strengthen child protection systems and promote safe and inclusive learning environments across the country. “These systems and environments must be reinforced to prevent future tragedies.

“No child should be put at risk while pursuing an education”, UNICEF noted.

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