ACF Hails Rescue Of Abducted Kaduna, Sokoto Students
…Calls For Proactive Measures Against Mass Abductions
The foremost Northern group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has welcome the rescue of students abducted from schools at Kuriga, Kaduna State, Tsangaya school children abducted in Gada Local Government Area, Sokoto State, and some of the students of Federal University Gusau (FUGUS) that have been held for a long time.
The group stated this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba on Sunday saying that, the development hopefully signals a new dawn in anti-terrorism measures being applied by Government.
It reads, “It is with warm hearts full of relief and gratitude that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) received news about the release the students abducted from schools at Kuriga, Kaduna State, Tsangaya school children abducted in Gada Local Government Area, Sokoto State, and some of the long-held students of Federal University Gusau (FUGUS).
“Specific to Kuriga, the rescue of the innocent kids is highly commendable. As alluded to in the statement from His Excellency Senator Uba Sani, the operation was made possible by a needed collaboration between various stakeholders including the security forces, the Kaduna State Government (KDSG) and locals.
“This is as should be, as many have indeed been stridently calling for such an approach to stamping out for good, the menace of terrorism and banditry that as existential threats to communities in Nigeria.
“All who contributed to seeing the feat deserve much appreciation and gratitude from all Nigerians. ACF joins all to extend kudos to the Federal Government and its security agencies, HE Senator Sani and KDSG, members of the local communities involved and indeed any and every one that directly and indirectly contributed to this happy denouement to the horrific nightmare scenario. ACF also rejoices with the student, their parents and guardians.
“Going forward, ACF calls for strengthening this new anti-terrorism multi-stakeholder, multi-pronged strategy, involving all those with direct and indirect responsibilities for securing peoples and communities and, ultimately, Nigeria”.
The group further recommended that, efforts should be intensified to have all remaining captives, everywhere and anywhere released.
It further stated that, for Kuriga, it is vital, because the number of victims released is at variance with earlier figures of abductees as indeed reflected in various news reports.
The group also recommended the adoption of simple but effective community-based measures, including simple or user-friendly gadgets, incorporating solid intelligence gathering and processing, for early warning, early response strategy to secure all vulnerable communities and facilities.
ACF also called for Psychological counselling for the released victims so that mental effect of the trauma is minimised and they return to normalcy.
It also reiterates its earlier call on the parents and students to remain defiant and not to be discouraged adding that, the terror merchants must not be allowed any semblance of victory, pyrrhic as it will be.
The foremost Northern interest group also called for the immediate rehabilitation of schools to make the learning environment conducive. Video clips of decrepit buildings and facilities at the Kuriga school as beamed on international media is bad statement for public policy.
