Northern coalition: School abductions designed to cripple education

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) says the recent abduction of schoolchildren is a “grand design” to discourage the growth of the region through education.

The coalition stated this on Sunday, in reaction to the recent abduction of 317 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangede in Talata-Mafara local government area of Zamfara, earlier on Friday.

This is the third abduction of schoolchildren in the northern part of the country within the past three months.

In a statement on Sunday signed by Abdul-Azeez Suleman, CNG spokesperson, the coalition asked northern leaders to work towards addressing insecurity in the region.

“We see the recent escalation of kidnap of schoolchildren as a grand design to cripple the educational viability of the northern region, after having messed up its economy and mutual cohesion,” the coalition said.

“We call on northern leaders to interrogate the extent of levity of the federal authorities in not being able to anticipate and checkmate the manoeuvres of marauding bands of criminals that roam northern communities and operate at will targeting such soft spots as schools.

“The situation is also difficult for absolutely everyone, as we wonder about the future and worry about each other, our neighbours, our friends, our families and ourselves.”