In response to the recent spate of abductions targeting schoolchildren, the Federal Government has announced plans to establish a School Safety Protection Squad, comprising newly recruited personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The initiative aims to curb incidents of abduction from educational institutions.
Hammed Abodunrin, the Commander of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre of the NSCDC, revealed this development in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters reported the successful rescue of 137 abducted pupils from the LEA Primary School and the Government Secondary School Kuriga in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna, within Zamfara State.
President Bola Tinubu welcomed the news of the release of the Kuriga schoolchildren and pupils from a Tsangaya school in Sokoto State, commending all parties involved for their efforts.
While the Defence Headquarters confirmed the rescue of 137 Kaduna schoolchildren, details regarding the fate of the remaining abducted pupils from the March 7, 2024 incident remain unclear. Efforts to obtain further information from the Defence Headquarters were unsuccessful as of the time of reporting.
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, however, confirmed in an interview on Channels Television that 137 pupils were abducted.
Following the abduction on March 7, 2024, where suspected terrorists took 287 pupils and teachers from LEA Primary School and the Government Secondary School Kuriga, the abductors demanded a ransom of N1 billion for their release, with a deadline set for March 27, 2024.
In a statement on Sunday, Maj Gen. Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, announced the successful rescue of 137 victims, comprising 76 females and 61 males, in Zamfara State. They will be transported to Kaduna and handed over to the state government.
The coordinated effort between the military, local authorities, and government agencies underscores the commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Nigeria’s schoolchildren. The establishment of the School Safety Protection Squad reflects ongoing efforts to address the alarming trend of abductions in educational institutions across the country.