By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief, North-Central)
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, on Friday, vowed that his administration will do anything to bring to book, anyone or group of persons found to have a hand or that masterminded the abduction of 91 pupils of the Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School, Tegina in Rafi Local Government Area of the state.
Bello made the declaration when he received the islamiyya students on arrival at Government House, Minna on Friday, August 27, 2021. He described the kid's abductors and their collaborators as ‘Sick Minds’ who will not go unpunished.
The Governor who was visibly angered by the abduction said his administration will set machinery in motion to apprehend the perpetrators of the act and bring them to book. “Their action goes to show the sickness and madness in their head for abducting the children, including a 3 years old and keeping them for over 80 days.
“On our part as a government, we will do whatever it will take to bring the perpetrators to book and punish them accordingly”. Governor Bello added that "contrary to general belief, only 91 and not 136 children were kidnapped and only one of them died in captivity. 90 are here safely rescued’, he explained.
Governor Bello also explained that two other abductees were freed along with the Tegnina school children, bringing the total of people that have been rescued today (Friday, August 27, 2021) to 92, and all of them have been medically examined. They were mostly found to be in good health condition except four of them that need further medical checks.
While lamenting the target of schools as it negatively impacts the state education sector, the Governor said the level of insecurity in the country has affected school enrolment as parents are now scared of sending their children and wards to school.
“The activities of armed bandits and kidnappers is negatively affecting the entire education sector, it affects the morale and confidence of parents in sending their children to schools”, adding however that, “we are on top of the situation to make our schools safe”.
Meanwhile, in an interview, one of the parents, Mallama Fati Alhassan, whose two children, a teenage boy, and a girl were among the 91 abducted pupils, expressed gratitude to God for the safe rescue and return of her children.
In an emotionally laden voice, Fati Alhassan, who claimed that she never expected to see her children back alive however commended all those who contributed to the safe rescue of all the children that were kidnapped by the armed bandits. NNL
