The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has condemned the abduction of 287 students and teachers from GSS Kuriga and LEA Primary School, Kuriga in Kaduna State.
The Forum described the development as an onslaught on education in Northern Nigeria, which must be tackled.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof Tukur Muhammad-Baba on Saturday, ACF said the various cases of abduction around schools, including that of Federal University Gusau in July last year, were indicative of the very parlous state of security in the country.
The group noted that the development has shown that school children are a defensively vulnerable population.
The Forum however called on the Federal Government to go beyond bland and sterile directives to insisting on results within specific time frames.
“The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is gravely saddened and exasperated at the news of the mass abduction by terrorists/bandits of about 312 students (20 of whom reportedly are 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 Angwar 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 that school children are 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/guardians; Commiserates with the parents/ guardians of the pupils and students,” the statement said.
