The North-Central chapter of the Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, has called on the federal government not to engage in empty condemnation but work towards rescuing the abducted students of Government Science College Kagara.
This is contained in a statement by the Zonal coordinator, Mohammed A. Mohammed and made available to ASHENEWS on Thursday.
“The Niger State chapter of the Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, is concerned about the recent escalation of attacks and abductions in Niger State and the dimension that they have taken.
“CNG is worried that as usual, in response to these attacks, the federal and state authorities merely issued empty condemnations and promises of acting to rescue the victims and checkmate the incidences which are now becoming the new normal.
“Underscoring the pervasive insecurity and threat of kidnapping by criminal elements across the northern part of Nigeria which has intensified particularly in several communities of Niger state, the latest daring attacks are certainly a matter of great concern to us.
“The new and scary dimension manifested when group of gunmen stopped a Niger State Transport Authority (NSTA) bus in the Yakila district of Rafi Local Government Area in broad daylight of February 14 and abducted about 27 of the passengers unchallenged.
“In another unchallenged operation a few days later on 16h February, attackers invaded the Government Science Secondary School, Kagara and abducted no fewer than 42 students.
“As if these were not enough, in the evening of the same date, several communities, including Sarkin Zama, Bakin Kogi (Lagbe), Siyiko in Gurmana ward of Shiroro local government, came under severe attack which lasted several hours with virtually no security presence.
“At the end of the attack, two lives were lost, many injured with yet to be ascertained number of kidnapped,” the statement reads.
The group resolved “to demand immediate action for the rescue of all the victims of these and other attacks within three days from today failing which is will mobilize all communities for an indefinite mass action to occupy the entire state.
It also demanded “Immediate compensation for communities and families that have suffered losses in all the security incidences across the state including the latest ones” as well as “immediate proclamation of a state of emergency in Niger State until the atmosphere is improved.”
