Tinubu Expresses Hope Over Rescue Of Abducted Borno IDPs, Kaduna Students

President Bola Tinubu has expressed optimism over the safe rescue of the abducted victims, whisked away by armed men from an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Borno, and a Government Secondary School (GSS) in Kaduna State respectively.

The president revealed this on Friday through its official handle on X, assuring the affected families of justice.

This week alone, over 400 people have been abducted in Northern Nigeria.

Two days ago, armed men invaded an IDP camp in Ngala tow, the headquarters of Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State, bordering Cameroon where terrorists are most active.

The armed men abducted about 200 persons, majorly women and whisked them away to an unknown location.

Also on Thursday, armed men wielding weapons in their hundreds invaded the precinct of the GSS, also housing a primary school, and abducted 287 persons. A total of 25 students were said to have returned to their families.

Tinubu while reacting to the incidents said, “I have received briefings from security chiefs on the two incidents in Borno and Kaduna, and I am confident that the victims will be rescued.”

To him as well as the affected families whose children/ward are now in the custody of kidnappers, “nothing else is acceptable” than their freedom.

He noted that “Justice will be decisively administered.”

Tinubu further directed security and intelligence agencies to immediately rescue the victims and ensure that justice is served against the perpetrators of these abominable acts.

“I sympathise with the families of the victims and assure them that they would soon be reunited with their loved ones,” Tinubu said.

Nigeria is again, faced with emboldened criminals who resort to kidnapping school children in large numbers, particularly in the suburban areas in Northern Nigeria for huge ransoms.

Since 2014 to date, over 1,680 students have been abducted by Non-State Government Actors (NSGA) — Many of whom are female students.

In some cases, the female victims are either released after a ransom has been paid, or are married off to their captors.

These incidents have persisted despite various safe school initiatives implemented by the federal government to create a safe space for children to learn without any form of obstruction, including insecurity.