Abduction of 287 Students: Kuriga Residents Angry, in Panic Mode

By Jumai Abdul/Kaduna

Over twenty-four hours after armed bandits invaded  the Government Secondary School, GSS, Kuriga in Chikun District of Kaduna State, abducting 287 students (187 from the secondary school arm and 100 from Primary), most schools in Kaduna State as well as parents are now in serious panic mode, pondering the fate of the kidnapped kids and wondering what will happen next.

Thursday’s abduction was the second largest ever since the kidnap of 276 school girls in Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram insurgents. In December 2020, in Kankara, Katsina state, 344 students were abducted and they were all rescued about a week later.

Citizens of Kuriga were still reeling in shock and unbelief, Friday, as to the magnitude of the disaster that just befell their community. Those who dared to speak pray the Kaduna State Government to do all in their its power to ensure the safe return of their kids.

“This terrible situation calls for urgent and decisive action,” said Gafar Mohammed, a large-scale farmer. “We have never felt so insecure like this since my adult life. Help us tell government to bring back our children safe and sound to us.”

“Nothing more, nothing less,’ chipped in a man who simply introduced himself as Sani. “This is not the time to speak big, big English on television.”

“Make dem give us security,” a woman simply identified as Mama Latifat said. “We no dey safe again. I beg government make dem send soldiers. I no fit sleep since yesterday.

“Till dem bring soldiers, no magaranta, no farm,” a man said, and went away angry.

“We no fit sleep again,” another shouted.

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, who felt the grief of the people when news of the attack hit him, promised urgent action to rescue the kids, in his first reaction to the incident.

“Since I received the sad news of this incident, I have not had rest of mind because every child in Kaduna state is my child,” he said. “So, I don’t want you people to be disturbed.

“Let us pray to God to help and on our part as a government, we will not rest until these children return home.”

Promising to establish a police station and build a permanent camp for the military in the community, the grief-stricken governor said he had briefed the national security adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, about the attack.

He assured that all hands were on deck to rescue the children safely and reunited them with their anxious families in good health.

“We will do whatever we need to do to ensure the safe return of these children, even if it means coming to Kuriga to stay with you,” Governor Sani assured.