By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

Over 280 school children and some teachers from Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria are still in the forest following their abduction by bandits who raided the LEA Primary School Kuriga in the morning hours of Thursday, the 7th of March, 2024.

This happened when the wounds created by the unfortunate error bombing of Tudun Biri community in Kaduna State, were yet to heal. The primary School was also accommodating some secondary school students who were moved from a location on the outskirts of the village due to security reasons, and were accommodated in some classes within the primary school.

A teacher, Sani Abdullahi was quoted as saying 100 students were abducted from the primary school while 187 were kidnapped from the secondary school, in a commando style operation. A brave member of the vigilante service who went after them was however shot and killed by the bandits.

Adamu Ibrahim, SS2 student who was among the few students who escaped on that fateful morning, said the bandits who were heavily armed, rode on about 30 motorcycles. He said the incident still gave him nightmares when he thought about his missing colleagues and their ordeal in the hands of their captors. “I was lucky, I ran inside a house near the school and hid under a bed. Some even climbed the roofs to hide, but they still took many of our school children away,” he said.

That was the story as narrated by the escapees. On his part, Adamu Abdullahi, SS3 student, said he and a few others jumped and hid inside a farm. They later surfaced and walked back home to safety after their colleagues were led into the bush by the bandits. Prior to the mass abduction, Kuriga was attacked in January 2024 when the bandits killed a school principal, Idris Abu Sufyan and abducted his wife and her baby.

How was it possible to kidnap such number of victims without intervention from security?

Kaduna is landlocked. Where did the kidnappers pass through and where did they go to after allegedly kidnapping 280 persons? What this means is that these bandits are inside our land space in Nigeria. How many bandits will it take to kidnap 300 people? How can such a group move with their victims without security operatives detecting them? Who is offering cover to these bandits and kidnappers?”

In as much as the questions could be intriguing, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani in an interview said that the only way out was for the states to be allowed to have their own police force.

Governor Uba Sani who assured that modalities were being put in place for the safe return of the kidnapped Kuriga school children, reiterated the state government’s commitment to protecting the lives and properties of the citizens. He assured that Kuriga would soon have a Police Station and military presence as he had spoken to the Federal authorities about the issue. “I’ve spoken to the Inspector General of Police. It’s unfortunate there is no police presence in that village. It’s a known fact that according to the constitution, a governor cannot establish any police structure until permission is granted by the Inspector General of Police. In all developed countries of the world, there is State Police. It was some people who couldn’t fully understand the concept of State Police. When the issue of security is being discussed, we talk about the military. But what is their total number? When I visited that village, the inhabitants were crying. But why were they crying? When those people invaded them, the local vigilante group couldn’t help. It’s only the State Police that could’ve handled that because it would be backed by law to handle arms,” the governor said.

Arewa Chieftains kick

For chieftains of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) the abduction of over 280 schoolchildren by bandits appeared that it was planned in advance. The ACF described the kidnap as a discomfiting reality, given the enormous public resources being allocated to the security sector.

Prof Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to go beyond perfunctory directives to the security forces to rescue the abducted students. Prof Baba, in a statement, explained that “ACF is gravely saddened and exasperated at the news of the mass abduction by terrorists/bandits of about 312 students (20 of whom were reportedly 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 Anguwar 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 around schoolchildren, 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 and guardians. ACF calls on all not to be discouraged and not to give the terrorists and bandits any chance to discourage and frighten us with their evil and cowardly tools of terror.

“Clearly, a multi-pronged regional strategy against the terrorists operating in all contagious states is called for. In these regards, the security forces should never dither or stay on the course of plain ineptitude and ineffectiveness that characterise the current strategy to contain and stamp out terrorism throughout the country.”

“ACF demands the immediate deployment of new measures, including the much-discussed Special Schools Security Scheme, the Schools Vigilante Force, Anti-Kidnapping Squads, etc., across the terror-prone states; it calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to go beyond perfunctory directives to the security forces to rescue the abducted students. The FGN must go beyond bland and sterile directives to insist on results within specific time frames..ACF believes that the time has long passed when this terrorism is fully eradicated nation-wide”.

Northern elders condemn escalating wave of school abductions

The Northern Elders said recent attack and mass abductions in Kuriga village, have once again brought to the forefront the grave security challenges facing Northern Nigeria. The Northern Elders through Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, Director of Publicity and Advocacy condemned the heinous act and expressed deep concern over the escalating wave of school abductions in the region.

“This incident, where over 200 students and teachers were kidnapped from LEA Primary school, further underscores the fragile state of security in the nation,” the elders said.

The NEF lamented the fact that the abduction of schoolchildren has now become a common occurrence in Northern Nigeria, posing a serious threat to education in the region. This reprehensible act not only violates the fundamental rights of these innocent children to education but also instills fear and anxiety among parents and educators. The recent wave of school abductions, where innocent children are being taken from their schools, is particularly distressing. These incidents not only traumatize the victims and their families but also undermine the educational system and the future of the nation,” the forum said

They emphasized the need for a collaborative effort between the government, security agencies, and local communities to ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians.

“It is clear that the current security situation is a matter of grave concern, and it is imperative that all stakeholders work together to find lasting solutions to these challenges,” NEF said.

The NEF also highlighted the broader implications of such acts of violence on the fabric of Nigerian society. The continuous occurrence of kidnappings, killings, armed robberies, and violent attacks, not just in the rural areas but even in the federal capital, is a stark reminder of the pervasive insecurity that plagues the nation. It is a tragic reality that Nigerians are living under constant fear of being targeted by criminal elements.

“The abduction of 200 students in Kuriga village is particularly distressing, considering that it is the same community where a school principal was killed and his wife kidnapped just over a month ago. Such brazen acts of violence demonstrate the brazen disregard for human life and the rule of law by the perpetrators of these crimes,” NEF said. The NEF warned that this state of lawlessness was unacceptable and called for urgent action to restore security and peace in the affected areas.

“This condemnation should serve as a clarion call for the government and security agencies to take proactive measures to protect schools, communities, and vulnerable populations in the North. It is imperative that all necessary resources and strategies are deployed to ensure the safe return of the abducted students and teachers and to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.

‘Government must see this as a strong stance reflecting the collective outrage and concern of Nigerians over the deteriorating security situation in the country. The government must prioritize the safety and well-being of its citizens and take decisive action to combat insecurity and safeguard the future of the next generation. Education is a fundamental right that must be protected at all costs, and any threat to it must be met with unwavering resolve and determination,” they said.

Previous school abductions in Kaduna State

Bandits had on 12th March 2021, abducted 27 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna State. Seven weeks after their abduction, their parents reportedly paid an undisclosed ransom before they were released.

On 21 April 2021, bandits attacked the Greenfield University, located along the Kaduna–Abuja highway. Some were killed and other students were later released.

On 11 June 2021, six students and two teachers of the Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria, were kidnapped by bandits. One student was killed. Thirty days after, the abductees were freed after they paid an undisclosed amount of money as ransom.

In the early hours of July 5 2021, bandits raided the Bethel Baptist School Kaduna and abducted 121 students. They were subsequently released in batches after ransom was allegedly paid.

The fresh school abduction on the 7th of March 2024 was that of the over 280 Kuriga students. Even though the Federal Authorities have insisted that no ransom would be paid to secure the freedom of the abductees as demanded, a news report by REUTERS indicated that the bandits had already given a 20 day ultimatum for N1b ransom to be paid for the release of the Kuriga school children.