Follow Us on Google
From John Adams, Minna
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, on Tuesday, paid a sympathy visit to the state governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago, over the bandits’ attack on St Mary’s Catholic Missionary School in Papiri, Agwara local government area of the state, where over 300, including 12 staff of the school, were whisked away.
The Inspector General of Police described the attack on schools and abduction of children by bandits as an act of terrorism to deny Nigerian children access to education.
The IGP admitted that Nigeria is facing a severe security crisis, with various terrorist groups and bandits waging war against innocent Nigerians across the country.
He said the recent attack and abduction of school children from the St Mary’s Catholic Church, Kebbi State, and the 38 worshippers in Kwara, who were recently rescued, among others, were unacceptable.
“While we are encouraged that 50 of the children of St Mary’s Catholic School escaped and reunited with their families, we are still carrying the burden of ensuring the remaining children are rescued.
This is because, if any community is attacked, the whole communities in Nigeria are attacked,” he noted.
Egbetokun called for collective efforts by governments and security agencies, including vigilantes and community leaders, to address security challenges facing Niger State and Nigeria at large.
Other News
According to him, “This is not the best of times. Niger State is facing a deep, troubling security moment with the recent displacement of communities, pressure at its border areas, and other criminalities. This demands collective efforts and action to tackle them because Niger State is important in Nigeria, especially with the recent abduction of school children,” he added.
While thanking the Niger State governor for supporting the police in discharging its duties, he disclosed that additional critical tactical assets and intelligence have been drafted to the state to ensure the safe release of the abducted children.
The Niger State Governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago, while thanking the IGP for the visit and the swift response to the attack on the missionary school, assured him of continued collaboration towards providing security for citizens of the state.
He, however, insisted that the state cannot ascertain the exact number of children abducted from St Mary’s Catholic School; hence, the decision by the government to open a register for parents to step forward and write down the names of their children.
“We don’t know the exact number of children abducted. This is because the Catholic Church is going back and forth on the number. However, what matters is that we are making efforts to rescue them. We have opened a register for the parents to register the names of their children, and we will ensure, we recover all missing children.
We have also confirmed the freedom of more abducted children of St Mary’s Catholic School, and we will disclose the number later in the day.”
He also called for prayers for the country’s democracy, saying, “Nigeria is under security threat, and we must all rise up and defend its honour and glory.”
