Kastina Abduction: Atiku Tells Buhari What To Do

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to deploy 24-hour military protection in schools around the states battling with insecurity in the country.

AllNews reports that on Friday night, unknown gunmen had invaded Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina state, and over 300 students are reportedly missing.

The former vice president asked the federal government to discontinue the boarding school system until the security situation is brought under control.

He also asked the government to change strategies in tackling banditry, and declare a state of emergency in states affected by insecurity.

In a long sympathetic statement, he said, “The abduction of a large number of students at the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State, is a very unwelcome escalation of the spate of insecurity in the nation, one which I condemn in the strongest possible terms,” Atiku said.

“I sympathize with the parents of the abducted children and the government and people of Katsina, my adopted home state and home of my late benefactor, Tafida Shehu Musa Yar’adua. I pray for their safe return.

READ ALSO: Kastina Abduction: Gov. Masari Says 17 Students Found, Reunited With Parents

“While I urge our nation’s law enforcement agencies to immediately swing to action and rescue the missing students, I am nevertheless conscious of the fact that we cannot continue to be reactionary in our response to the growing insecurity in Nigeria. Something has to give.

“I, therefore, call on the Federal Government to immediately declare a state of emergency in states bedeviled by banditry and terrorism, for an offensive and decisive war on terror and insecurity.

“The rationale is quite simple: We cannot win the war on terror by continuing with the same strategies we have deployed over the last five years. That they have not worked is very glaring, with the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara incidence being the latest in a long line of proofs.

“If we must get better results, we must implement better strategies. Strategies that may have to include the temporary stoppage of the boarding school system, in favour of a day students approach until the situation is brought under control. Strategies that must include 24 hours armed military guard for each school in the affected states.”

Following the attack, Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina, ordered the immediate closure of all boarding secondary schools in the state.