Abduction of School Girls: It's a Threat to Education in Nigeria-NAWOJ President Blast

Daily Rendezvous

 

The national president of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalist, Ladi Bala, has called on governmnent at all levels to quickly address the unabated kidnapping of girls in schools across the country.

Ladi pointed out that the abductions at Kankara, Jangebe, and Kaduna are one abductions too many and governmnent should address the growing insecurity in the country.

Ladi made the remarks in a press statement issued to Daily Rendezvous, over the weekend.

Ladi notes that while closing of all schools by the Niger state government could be seen as temporary situation, governmnent at all levels should work towards the fencing of schools to curb the incessant kidnappings of school children and especially girls.

Ladi Bala said, "The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists  (NAWOJ ) has condemned in strong terms the recent  abduction of over two hundred students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna, Kaduna state, North-West Nigeria.

"The latest  abduction which is the fourth in the series of attacks on schools in last  two months, calls for urgent and proactive actions  by the Federal Government and security agencies to halt the activities of criminals in the country.

"From Kankara in Katsina State, to Kagara in Niger, Jangebe in Zamfara and now Kaduna state, with the  same mode of operation  is certainly one attack too many for comfort."

The NAWOJ Boss added that, "The question on the lips of many Nigerians is when will this new act of criminality which is exposing our innocent children to dangers in the forest end?

"It is quite disheartening to note that in recent times schools in northern Nigeria have come under serious security threat,  thereby putting the act of teaching and learning in jeopardy.

"This ugly trend no doubt  spells doom for the future of young Nigerians especially our cherished young boys and  girls who are the future leaders of the country.

"The cherry picking in our schools if allowed to continue is not in the best interest of our great nation.

"While concerted efforts are being  put in place by government and development partners to bridge the gaps of learning lost to COVID-19, the wave of abductions of  students is counter productive.

"When schools are no longer safe for learning owing to the activities of criminals that seem to have taken over and calling the shots, it is not only inimical but retrogressive as well as an alarming in  Nigeria's developmental stride.

"NAWOJ as the umbrella body for women journalists, therefore calls on government at all levels to fence all boarding schools and ensure that security personnel are deployed to keep watch over school environments in Nigeria.

"The decision to close  schools by some state governors could serve as preventive steps in the interim but not in the best interest of students and education.

"The Nigerian government must not allow criminal elements to hijack and hold education and other sectors to ransom."

NAWOJ further said, "NAWOJ views the  attacks on our schools as a deliberate attempt to scuttle the Nigerian government's achievement in the reduction in out  of school children from the alarming rate of over twelve million to seven million.

"It is in the light of this that NAWOJ avers that the  time to act is now.

"No more negotiation with abductors and related criminals in the interest of safety of Nigerians."