Kaduna school attack: Bandits spare pupils, kidnap teachers

…PTA condemns attack

The Kaduna State Government has confirmed  that bandits spared pupils and kidnapped three teachers of  Rema Primary School, Magajin Gari Ward 2, of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, Kaduna State.

At a press briefing on Monday, Commissioner of Internal Security and home affairs, Samuel Aruwan told journalists that the State Government has compiled and analyzed all the security reports and can confirm that there was indeed an invasion by gunmen but only three teachers, namely; Rabiu Salisu, Umar Hassan, and Bala Adamu have been kidnapped.

“Pupils who had just arrived the school to begin the day’s activities, took to their heels in the course of the commotion, as the bandits invaded the premises on motorcycles. This led to  two pupils missing, identified as Ahmad Halilu and Kabiru Yahaya.” Aruwan said.

”However, we are happy to inform you that the two missing pupils have been found. We can also confirm that no single pupil was kidnapped from the school. Other than the three teachers previously mentioned, no staff or pupil of the school is missing following the attack,” he added

Security reports according to the commissioner have also revealed that the bandits rustled several cattle and went away with five motorcycles and other valuables.

Meanwhile,  the Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria (PTA) has called for urgent deployment of security personnel to all schools in the country to prevent further abduction of students.

The National President of the association Alhaji Haruna Danjuma made the call in an interview with journalists in Kaduna on Monday.

He described the attacks on schools by gunmen as a very serious threat to the country’s education sector, which must be dealt with decisively to avert collapse of the sector.

“We condemn in totality, all the activities of bandits, kidnappers and terrorists attacking our schools.

“We want government to secure all our schools to avert further kidnapping of our students for ransom.”

He noted that since the kidnapping of Chibok school girls, and subsequent ones in Dapchi, Katsina  Niger and now Kaduna states, the government has done little to secure the schools.

“The students of college of forestry and mechanization are still in their hands demanding for N500 million to be released.

“This afternoon, we heard of another bad and schocking  news, that gunmen abducted primary school students, including teachers in Birnin-Gwari Local Government of Kaduna State.

“We are appealing to Federal Government to help us in  bringing an end, the security challenges that is now affecting our educational system.”

Danjuma noted that the attacks on schools will prevent children from going to school, if the trend continues.

The PTA national president called for collective effort by communities and security agancies toward bringing an end to the attacks.

He suggested that states and federal governments should also empower local vigilantes to tackle the menace.

Meanwhile, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani, head of the Foundation for Protection of Women and Childrens in Nigeria, also urged government to provide enough security to secure all schools.

Tijjani advised government to engage local hunters and vigilantes to compliment the efforts of security agencies in restoring stability in troubled areas.

She said the situation has further destabilised the education sector in the North, which currently has the highest number of out-of-school children in the country.

“With the increase in attacks, many children would be afraid of going to school, hence the need to bring an end to this menace,” she added.