From SHuaibu Zubair Tatu in Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has assured parents of the kidnapped students of the Federal Government College , Birnin Yauri and staff that, efforts were being intensified by the State Government to ensure their safe rescue.
” The state government would do everything humanly possible to bring back these children and the staff safely.
” Since when this unfortunate incident occurred, all hands are on the deck to ensure that these our children and the staff are rescued alive, hale and hearty,” Bagudu, promised.
Bagudu, who was emotion laden,gave the assurance on Friday spoke at the when he visited the college to commiserate with the staff and students on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as the people and Government of the state.
He added:” This abduction is a brazen and tragic incident, where bandits confronted the policemen providing security to the school and empowering them .
” Unfortunately,they made away with some students and Teachers . It is an unfortunate incident .
” About two weeks ago, there was the news of bandits’ movement and they were sighted around this area
” We consulted with the Federal authorities, here, who told us that the school has about two weeks to finish its terminal examinations.
” It was agreed that if security can be found and stationed in the school, it is better to support the children to finish their examinations before going home.”
Bagudu, who however,expressed delight that the Commissioner of Police was gracious enough to deploy a contingent from the Special Anti Terrorism Taskforce, noted that no fewer than 22 of the members of the taskforce were deployed to the school.
Though they were around, even during the attack,u fortunately, they were overpowered because on different accounts, the bad elements came in hundreds.”
According to the Governor, the security agents deserve commendation for their gallant efforts while trying to repel the attack at the school
Bagudu said that all hands must be on deck to support the security agents. vigilantes and community leaders that were all doing their best to see that the students and staff were rescued alive.
” These children are all ours and we are obliged to pray to seek for their safe return. I am glad that the parents who also spoke expressed courage and acknowledged that the security agents did the best they could and still doing their very best.
“Same goes for the school Principal, Teachers and other staff,” the Governor, added .
Bagudu urged all and sundry to continue to be fair minded, pray and exchange information that would lead to the timely rescue of the students and teachers concerned, adding, ” by God’s grace, our children and the teachers will come back to us alive.”
Also speaking, the Principal of the College, simply known as Alhaji Yusuf, described the incident as “unfortunate, adding, that portents a very sad week for all of us.”
He also commiserated with Buhari ,Bagudu and the parents and expressed hope that the abductees would be rescued alive.
The Principal prayed Almighty Allah to enrich Bagudu with good health, wisdom and ability to successfully pilot the affairs of the state.
The State House of Assembly member representing the area, Hon. Adamu Muhammad Birnin Yauri, and the Chairman of Ngaski Local Government Area, Hon Buhari Abdullahi, commended the governor for the sympathy visit and his quick response to the matter.
They also lauded the security personnel for their gallant efforts in repelling the bandits whose number he said,surpassed the security officers.
A cross section of the parents and teachers who spoke at the occasion appreciated the swift response of the security to repel the attack .
They thanked the governor for the sympathy visit as well as his quick intervention on the matter, saying that his visit had given them fresh hope on the possible of their students and teachers regaining their freedom soon.
One of the parents, who preferred to remain anonymous told the governor that his visit had given her hope and inspiration that her abducted children would be rescued.
She appealed to other parents to fervently pray for the success of the rescue operation.
The governor was at the Palace of Emir of Yauri Dr. Zaiyanu Abdullahi, to sympathise with him over the abduction of the school children.
The Emir called on the government to have the political will to deal with banditry and any form of terrorism in the country.
The emir also called on people in the various localities to see it as their duty to expose those serving as informants to bandits in their communities.
He applauded the efforts of the governor for his concern since the students were taken by the bandits while enjoining people in the community to support government in its effort to deal with banditry and restore peace to the state.
He expressed the commitment of his emirate to come together and complement effort of the government to deal with security challenges in the area.
Governor Bagudu also visited Yauri General Hospital where he sympathised with victims of bandits attack .
While the governor was on his way back to Birnin-kebbi with his entourage, hundreds of people along Ngaski, Yauri, Koko, Maiyama, Jega and Birnin Kebbi road, were seen waving and praising him for his quick response that led to the rescue of some students and staff of the college.
The Reporters, an online publication, recalls that the efforts of the security forces against the bandits in the state yielded fruit on Friday as they repelled the bandits and rescued some students of the college while efforts are being intensified to set the remaining abductees free.
