*Reassure kidnap pupils’ parents of safe return soon
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Following incessant security breaches in seven local government areas of Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani summoned an emergency meeting of stakeholders in the troubled local government areas of the state.
He also reassured the affected parents of the Kuriga community that their children would soon return home safely.
The seven LGAs are Kajuru, Birnin-Gwari, Kachia, Kagarko, Igabi, Chikun, and Giwa. It was gathered that the stakeholders meeting was summoned by the governor in view of the series of attacks and kidnappings in these local government areas within the last four weeks.
Sighted at the strategic emergency meeting held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna, Wednesday were heads of security agencies, community leaders, traditional institutions, the seven chairmen of LGAs, as well as state assembly members in the affected communities.
In an opening remarks, Governor, Uba Sani, reassured the affected parents of the Kuriga community that their children would soon return home safely.
He said relevant security agencies as well as President Bola Tinubu were on top of the situation to ensure the safe return of the 287 abductees who had spent two weeks in the hands of their captives.
The governor said that he summoned the stakeholders because of the need for the communities to collaborate with security agencies on intelligence sharing to tackle insecurity in the seven affected LGAs.
Governor Sani, therefore, charged traditional rulers to ensure they report strange movements and incidents of attacks by terrorists without delay to enable security operatives to move in to save the situation whenever it happens.
“As I said, we are making a lot of progress, and we are also working to ensure that our children return home safely.
“Only yesterday (Tuesday), I had further interactive sessions with the communities that were affected, particularly the Kuriga community.
“I have no doubt in my mind that the efforts we are making with relevant security agencies and Mr President have been doing everything possible to ensure that our children return home safely.
“I can say it here that Mr President is determined. I have had a series of discussions with him, the National Security Adviser, and service chiefs.
“A lot of progress has been made so far. We will not disclose them here, but we are on top of the matter, and by the grace of God, our children will return home safely.”
“We are here this afternoon to have a very important meeting, which should be more of an interactive meeting between the Kaduna State Government and the heads of security agencies in Kaduna, as well as members of the state assembly from the seven local government areas that were affected by an unfortunate incident of insecurity in the last few weeks. With us are also our highly respected traditional rulers from the seven local government areas.
Recalled that an estimated 450 people have been kidnapped within the period, but the most prominent was the kidnapping of at least 287 schoolchildren at Kuriga, Chikun LGA, while 87 were kidnapped at Kajuru LGA in recent times.
