Atiku on Kagara abductions: Paying ransom to criminals not the solution

Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, has condemned the abduction of schoolchildren from Government Science College, Kagara in Rafi local government area of Niger state.

Gunmen had stormed the school on Wednesday morning, and kidnapped some students, staff, and family members.

Reacting in a statement on Wednesday, Abubakar said the insecurity in the country is beyond alarming and “it has gotten to crisis levels, especially when it involves children and other minors.”

He said Nigeria needs solutions to the menace, as it is now apparent that paying ransom to criminals is not the solution.

The former vice-president urged the federal government to end the reign of impunity by arresting and making examples of criminal elements as a deterrent to others.

Abubakar advised the government to be proactive, adding that history may not forgive them if they carry on with doing things the way they had always been.

“I condemn the abduction of students and staff of Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State. The reported death of one of the students in the process of escape is heartbreaking,” Atiku said.

“The thoughts of my family and I are with the parents and the authorities of the institution.

“Now is not the time for fingers to point in blame. Our nation needs solutions. And we have now seen that paying ransoms and allowing criminals to profit from their criminality is not a solution.

“When you reward crimes, the end result is more crime. The only long-term solution to the insecurity challenge Nigeria is facing is to end the reign of impunity.

“The Federal Government must enforce the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against abductions and kidnappings, by apprehending the criminals, trying them and making an example of those convicted, to serve as a deterrent to others.

“Also, we must be proactive. We cannot wait for these abductions to happen and then go into reactive mode.

“I, therefore, call on the Federal Government to declare all secondary and primary schools in the affected states and zones, as Federal Protected Zones and post-armed military personnel at all schools for 24/7 protection.

“If it is not feasible to have armed military guards in all schools, then each state should as a matter of urgency replicate the Civilian Joint Task Force idea, that has worked so well in Borno, and deploy them to each school, along with men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

“What we must not do is do nothing. History may forgive us for making wrong decisions, but we will never be forgiven if we carry on business as usual.

“As a nation, we must be willing to provide the same level of security that we provide for the schools that the children of the elite attend, for schools that the children of other classes of Nigerians attend.

“I pray that the Kagara staff and students are rescued, and for peace to return to Nigeria.”