By Angela Atabo
The Africa Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF),an organisation advancing quality education, has condemned the recent school kidnapping and advocated for increased security measures around schools to curtail kidnapping.
Dr Arome Salifu, Executive Director,AYGF,at a news conference on Friday, also called for the need to strategically place CCTV cameras and additional security personnel in schools.
Salifu advocated for increased resources and support for vulnerable communities like Chikun, often targeted by kidnappers as well as every community where schools exist.
“AYGF condemns in strong terms the unfortunate and continuous abduction of school children in Nigeria with the most recent kidnapping of Over 280 pupils in Kaduna state and 15 pupils in Sokoto state.
“AYGF expresses outrage at how porous the security of the Nation has become in schools noting, that constant abduction of children will further increase the number of out-of-school children and also cause setbacks for the education sector.”
Salifu said that report showed that in the past 10 years, Nigeria has witnessed more than 17 mass kidnappings, an unpleasant record.
” We understand that the federal government has stated in strong terms that it will not condone abductions or kidnapping or any kind of criminality in the country.
“Therefore ,we urge all relevant security agencies to take very proactive steps to secure the safe release of all the children currently in captivity.”
Salifu said this should not be allowed to become another Chibok situation.
He therefore, called on all key stakeholders, both nationally and internationally, to intervene and secure the safe return of the kidnapped children.
He empathised with the families of those affected and reiterated that the security of lives and property should be of utmost priority.
He said that emotional and psychological support services should be provided to the families of the abducted children.
He added that clear communication and regular updates from authorities throughout the crisis was essential.
He said the group also called for the need to address the root causes of these kidnappings, such as poverty, lack of educational opportunities, and historical grievances in the region.
Salifu encouraged the government to revisit the revamping the Safe School Initiative and immediately review progress made, provide the funding that it reneged on previously and get every stakeholder working again to ensure the success of the initiative.
Salifu said that AYGF hopes that by implementing these recommendations and working together, the Nigerian government and relevant stakeholders would secure the children’s safe return and address the underlying issues that contribute to these tragedies.
(NAN)
