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- kidnapping discouraging school enrollment
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has appealed to armed bandits that kidnapped nearly 300 school children from Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary and Junior Secondary School, Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, to release the children unharmed.
The bandits reportedly invaded the school on Thursday morning, and made away with the pupils and some of their teachers to unknown destination.
The Minister told journalists at a press conference, in Abuja, on Friday, that such periodic attacks on the public schools have been contributing to the low enrollment in schools, hence increasing the number out-of-school school.
He said the Ministry was working with the Kaduna State government and the security operatives to ensure speedy rescue and return of the kidnapped school children.
“These are vulnerable children who were met with this unfortunate experience in a place that’s supposed to be safe for them to acquire education. We can’t afford to allow these children remain in the kidnappers,” he said.
He said the President has directed the security agencies to expedite action on the rescue efforts. “We will be working with the security agencies to ensure that we bring to end this type of thing under the Safe School project of the Federal Government.
“We sincerely hope these our young ones are brought back before the Ramadan season starts. So, we would commit them to prayers to the Almighty to protect them and bring them back safely home.”
