Kaduna abduction: Atiku reacts, advises FG to stop paying ransom
- Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the fresh abduction of pupils and teachers in Kaduna state
- Abubakar on Monday, March 15, appealed to the federal government to stop paying ransom at random
- The former vice president also urged the government to declare an emergency in the education sector
PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
The federal government has been advised against the payment of ransom at random to kidnappers in the country.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria's former vice president made the plea in a series of tweets on Monday, March 15, via his verified official handle @atiku.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate gave the advice in reaction to the recent abduction of teachers and some school pupils in Kaduna state.
Source: Facebook
According to Atiku, the payment of ransom is a short-term solution that will cause a lot of long-term destruction.
He went on to warn that if the government keeps paying ransom and allow abductions to continue, things could get worse in Nigeria
While calling on the government to declare a state of emergency in the education sector, the former vice president advised that 24-hour armed guards be immediately positioned at every school in the affected and neighbouring states.
He wrote on Twitter.
"With the latest Kaduna school abduction, I repeat my call for the FG to declare a state of emergency in the education sector and to post 24-hour armed guards at every school in the affected and neighbouring states.
We must also stop paying ransom at random. It is a short term solution that will cause much long term destruction."
Atiku's comment is coming hours after the Kaduna state government confirmed the abduction of pupils and teachers in Birnin Gwari local government area of the state on Monday, March 15.
This is contained in a statement released by the state's commissioner of internal security and home affairs, Samuel Aruwan.
The statement cites preliminary reports as indicating that the incident occurred at an LEA Primary School in the local government area.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the bandits who abducted 39 students from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Kaduna state have demanded N500 million for their release.
Three parents of some of the abducted students confirmed that the abductors have reached out and made a demand of N500 million for their release.
The kidnappers released three videos showing the students in what appeared to be a forest area.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read the best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
------
Oluwatobi Bolashodun is a Legit.ng journalist with six years of working experience in the media industry. She graduated from Babcock University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication. Oluwatobi is a Current Affairs Editor, mostly writing on political, educational, and business topics. She uses her team spirit to encourage others to work hard.
Source: Legit.ng
