CODE condemns spate of children abductions across northern Nigeria
- In the wake of the recent Kidnappings and abductions of schoolchildren, Connected Development, CODE, has condemned the atrocious acts by terrorists
- The organisation, in a statement, tasked government at all levels to take urgent action to ensure the safety of school children
- CODE says the recent incidents of abductions is detrimental to its work advocating for education, especially the education of the girl-child
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A foremost non-governmental organisation in Nigeria, Connected Development, CODE, has described as worrisome and an indictment on the country's democracy; the spate of abductions of school children in recent times.
The organisation, in a statement sent to Legit.ng on Wednesday, March 3 called on the federal government to urgently deploy measures to protect children and ensure schools are safe for learning.
Source: Twitter
Part of the statement read:
“Mass kidnappings of school girls and boys at schools in the NorthEast & NorthWest Nigeria have become a frequent phenomenon in the past 3 months, carried out by acclaimed bandits who have turned these menace into money-making ventures.
“This form of brazen terrorism has unfortunately not been met with the level of aggression that is needed to address the severity of a recurring crime of this kind.
“The government rather than re-strategise its security infrastructure and address the dearth of effective protection of lives and property continues to play to the tune of these culprits and reward them with ransoms.
“State governments and President Mohammadu Buhari must step up measures to tackle this notorious attack before it escalates.”
CODE also lamented that the children, parents, and guardians affected will suffer psychological and social consequences on their experiences for the rest of their lives.
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Meanwhile, a coalition of 15 northern-based civil society organisations on Wednesday, March 3 accused some northern governors of turning the rising cases of kidnapping and banditry in the region into money-spinning ventures.
The groups under the umbrella of Non-State Actors Consultative Forum made the accusation at a press briefing in Kano state.
Speaking at the briefing, the co-convener of the coalition, Mr. Ibrahim Waiya, alleged that political actors in north Nigeria have devised a new strategy to swindling public resources through negotiation with bandits.
On his part, former Anambra state governor Peter Obi has frowned at reports of the government paying bandits ransom to free those abducted by the criminal gangs.
Obi a former vice presidential candidate, said such actions by the government are inimical to the economic growth of Nigeria.
Jerrywright Ukwu is an Abuja-based senior political/defence correspondent at Legit.ng. He is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos and the International Institute of Journalism in Abuja. He is also a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. He spends his leisure-time reading history books. He can be reached via email at jerrywright39@yahoo.com.
Source: Legit.ng
