Prioritise rescue of kidnapped Borno IDPs, Kaduna pupils, ActionAid urges FG

ActionAid Nigeria has condemned the abductions of Internally Displaced Persons in the Gambarou-Ngala area of Borno State and pupils and teachers of LEA Primary School at Kuriga, Kaduna State.

The According earlier reported that over 280 pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School at Kuriga, Kaduna State, were abducted by bandits on Thursday.

The bandits were reported to have invaded the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of the state on Thursday, shooting at their victims before taking away at least 280 of the pupils and teachers from both schools.

The incident occurred barely 24 hours after insurgents abducted 200 internally displaced women while fetching firewood in the bush in Ngala, the headquarters of Gambarou-Ngala in Borno State.

In a statement by its Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, AAN said the abductions mirrored the previous abductions of the Chibok and Dapchi girls, adding that every passing moment without actions drew the country closer to a repeat of tragic outcomes of previous abduction cases.

He called on the Borno and Kaduna state governments, as well as the Federal Government, to prioritise the immediate rescue of the abductees and reunite them with their families.

“We vehemently condemn these brazen acts of terror on innocent civilians, which tragically mirror past atrocities such as the abductions of the Chibok and Dapchi girls. We call on the Kaduna and Borno State Governments and the Federal Government of Nigeria to prioritise the urgent rescue of the abducted IDPs and ensure their safe return to their families.

“Every passing moment without action brings us closer to a repeat of the tragic outcomes witnessed in previous abductions. It is absurd and unacceptable that over 200 Nigerians in Borno State have been kidnapped since February 29 without any decisive action being taken to rescue them and that scores of children were abducted in Kaduna State just a few days later. We refuse to tolerate the same failures and slow progress in rescuing our abducted compatriots,” he said.

The group also demanded accountability and justice for all the victims of the abductions while urging security agencies to learn from past mistakes and take decisive action to prevent further harm to the abductees.

It further highlighted the urgent need for government to prioritise the implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative agreed upon by federal and state schools, noting that insecurity “has contributed to the current 20 million children who are out of school, and the Safe Schools Initiative aims to address these challenges and ensure a safe learning environment for all children in Nigeria”.

The Country Director emphasised that the government must ensure that security agencies did not delay in rescuing the abductees.

“Their lives and well-being must be the top priority of the states and federal government at this time. ActionAid Nigeria also calls upon the international community, civil society organisations, and all stakeholders to join us in advocating for the immediate and safe rescue of the abducted IDPs and kidnapped pupils,” he stated.