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From John Adams, Minna
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun yesterday visited Niger State Governor Umaru Bago over the bandits attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Missionary School in Papiri Agwara local government of the state, where over 300 people, including 12 staff of the school were abducted.
The IGP described the attack on schools and abductions of children by bandits as an act of terrorism to deny Nigerian children access to education.
Egbetokun 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 it is unacceptable the recent attack and abduction of school children from St Mary’s Catholic Church, Kebbi State schoolgirls abduction and the 38 worshippers in Kwara State,who were recently rescued, amongst others in the country.
“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, security agencies, including vigilante, community leaders to address security challenges facing Niger state and Nigeria at large.
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According to him,”This is not the best of times. Niger state is facing deep troubling security moment with recent displacement of communities, pressure at it’s border areas and other criminalities.
“This demands for collective efforts and action to tackle them because Niger state is important in Nigeria especially with recent abduction of school children”, he added.
While thanking the Niger state Governor for supporting the police in discharging their 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.
Governor Bago,while thanking the IGP for the visit and the swift response over 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 could not 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 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 names of their children and we will ensure that 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”.
