Destruction of school system won't be tolerated: Buhari talks tough, issues stern warning to bandits
- President Buhari has said his administration will not allow Nigeria's school system to be destroyed
- The Nigerian leader said this following the incessant abductions of students by bandits, with the Kaduna incident being the latest
- President Buhari commended the Kaduna state government, the security agencies and the local vigilantes for their efforts in rescuing a huge number of the kidnap victims
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President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday, March 13, issued a stern warning to would-be terrorists and bandits targeting schools, especially in the northern parts of the country.
A statement released by presidential spokesman Garba Shehu indicates that the president said the country will not allow the destruction of the school system.
Legit.ng gathers that President Buhari commended efforts of the Kaduna state government and early response of the military which led to the rescue of 180 students including eight staff members but urged that the others declared missing be found and returned safely to their families.
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He also commended efforts and contributions of local intelligence in significantly thwarting the kidnappers, saying that a country that has an efficient local intelligence network is a safer country.
His words:
“Our military may be efficient and well-armed but it needs good efforts for the nation’s defense and the local population must rise to this challenge of the moment.”
President Buhari expressed sympathy with the victims of this incident and hoped for an early end to the ordeal of those still held captive.
Earlier, the Kaduna state government confirmed that no fewer than 39 students are still missing after a group of armed bandits stormed their school in the northern state on Friday, March 12.
The state's commissioner for internal security and home affairs, Samuel Aruwan, revealed this information in a statement on Friday night.
According to Aruwan, 39 students, both male and female, of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka are yet to return home or to the school.
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Meanwhile, the bandits behind the Kaduna school abduction have demanded N500 million ransom.
Three parents of some of the abducted students have reported confirmed that the abductors have reached out and made a demand of N500 million for their release.
The kidnappers have also released three videos showing the students in what appeared to be a forest area.
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Nurudeen Lawal is a Legit.ng journalist passionate about fact-checking/verification journalism. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature-in-English from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. As Politics Editor, Nurudeen mostly writes on Nigeria’s political and socio-economic developments. He has attended different workshops, conferences and training on fact-checking and digital reporting, among others. Learn more about him on Twitter, @Nurudeen Lawal_
Source: Legit.ng
