Niger Governor Bello shuts boarding schools after abduction of students

As Senators berates Buhari’s Govt over insecurity

By Our Editor

Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello has directed the immediate closure of boarding schools in four local government areas in the state.

The governor stated this in a broadcast at the Government House following the abduction of 27 students of Government Science College Kagara, some staffers of the school and members of their families.

The local government where the governor has ordered boarding schools shut are Rafi, Mariga, Munya and Shiroro.

Governor Sani-Bello said all options would be explored to ensure the release of all the abducted persons but vowed that the state government would not pay ransom, saying it is not the policy of the government to do so.

The media  had reported the kidnap at the Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State, during which students and staffers were abducted.

The armed men were said to have dressed in army uniforms when they raided the school late Tuesday night.

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered security agencies to secure the immediate release of the kidnapped persons.

This comes less than 24 hours after bandits kidnapped no fewer than 21 persons in Yakila in Rafi Local Government Area of the state.

Governor Sani-Bello had on several occasions complained about the influx of bandits from different parts of the country into Niger State.

He also urged the president to come to the rescue of the state over the dire security situation that is also being witnessed across the country

Meanwhile the kidnap students of Government Science Secondary School, Kagara (Niger State) has pushed some Senators into uncontrollable anger against the Nigerian Government.

Senators Mohammed Enagi (APC-Niger South), Sani Musa (APC-Niger East), and Aliu Sabi Aliu (APC-Niger North) described as unacceptable, the worsening state of insecurity in Niger State and Nigeria in general.

In a brief debate on a motion sponsored by Senator Musa, the lawmakers expressed worries that the state had become unsafe for education, agriculture, and other socio-economic engagements.

https://35d60af8f8ce90c99f48f1062843d1f3.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html Musa in defending his motion, informed his colleagues that the number of students in that school was more than 1000 adding that the actual number of those kidnapped was yet to be known.

But a spokesman for Niger State Muhammad Sani Idris said about 650 students were in the school when it was attacked.

Before the debate began, the Senate leadership had warned lawmakers against resorting to politics and political gimmicks during deliberations.

Consequently, all lawmakers who participated in the debate were from the APC as none from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spoke.

Use of aggressive  words and languages got to its peak when Senator Enagi lamented that none of the resolutions that had been adopted by Senate and sent to President Muhammadu Buhari was executed.

According to him, the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is grossly incompetent.

The visibly angry lawmaker further noted that the government had been evasive on issues that ought to be given attention.

Enagi observed that it was unfortunate that the Federal Government was too incompetent to handle in such a way as to guarantee full employment for the nation’s teeming youths.

Enagi suggested the amendment of laws that would allow governors who are chief security officers of their respective states to take charge, insisting that the government at the centre has failed woefully.

He added that citizens might need to be allowed to bear arms through the amendment of laws if the situation persists.

“I’m sorry to say this, the government is grossly incompetent in the handling of security challenges in this country,” Enagi said.

“In my own zone, few days ago, terrorists went to two local governments, but fortunately, my people were able to repel and killed 9 of them and in short everybody that is here has a story to tell about security challenges in this country.

“What else are we supposed to do that we are not doing? Are supposed to amend laws in this country to give every citizen the opportunity to carry arms? What else are supposed to do?

“Shouldn’t we amend Nigeria Constitution to give more powers to the governors who are the Chief Security Officers of their various States because, our government at the centre is so incompetent in the handling of security issues.” Enagi posited.