Tinubu orders security forces to secure the freedom of remaining abducted Niger schoolchildren

President Bola Tinubu has directed security agencies to ensure the release of the 115 remaining students of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara LGA, Niger state.

A statement issued on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said that Tinubu commended security operatives for “tireless efforts in securing the freedom” of the 100 students out of the 265 abductees, including all 12 teachers.

The president said the federal government is ready to work with state governments to secure schools for a conducive learning environment.

“I have been briefed on the safe return of 100 students from the Catholic School in Niger state,” the statement quoted Tinubu as saying.

“I rejoice with Governor Umar Bago and commend our security agencies for their steadfast work in ensuring the safe return of the students to their families since the unfortunate incident on November 21.

“My directive to our security forces remains that all the students and other abducted Nigerians across the country must be rescued and brought back home safely. We must account for all the victims.

“The federal government will continue to work with Niger State and other states to secure our schools and make the learning environment safer and more conducive for our young ones.

“From now on, our security agencies, working with the governors, must prevent future kidnappings.

“Our children should no longer be sitting ducks for heartless terrorists’ intent on disrupting their education and subjecting them and their parents to unspeakable trauma.”

On Sunday, the federal government secured the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted from the Niger school — two weeks after their abduction.

The gunmen, who invaded the school on November 21 at about 2 a.m. on motorbikes, initially took away 315 persons, comprising 303 students and 12 teachers, in an operation that lasted three hours.

Subsequently, 50 pupils escaped within the first 24 hours of the abduction.

TheCable