The northern youth organisations under the umbrella of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has thrown weight behind the decision of the government not to negotiate with bandits over the abduction of 287 students and teachers of Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA primary schools in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state.
Speaking exclusively with LEADERSHIP, president general of AYCF, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, while condemning the abduction of school children, urged the security agencies to work professionally towards ensuring that the students are released unhurt and reunited with their families.
Shettima who lamented the brazen manner in which the students and teachers were kidnapped said, ”We condemn the abduction of Kuriga school children and teachers; it is unacceptable. We call on the federal government to follow the rules of military engagement and secure the release of these children unhurt.
“We are totally against negotiation with criminals; no dialogue with the bandits, because if we continue to negotiate with criminals they will continue with their criminal activities.
“There was a report that the government is hiring a private negotiator to facilitate the release of the abducted school children but Kaduna state government came out and denied the story; we don’t want to have any reason to doubt the government,” Shettima said.
Meanwhile, 72 hours after the mass abduction of the 287 students and teachers of Kuriga students and teachers by bandits, there is no hint of any effort being made to rescue them.
The northern youth leader said the situation of lack of information about efforts being made to rescue the children is very worrisome and further urged the government to keep to its assurance of not leaving any stone unturned towards rescuing them and in good time.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who had visited Kaduna State on Saturday over the incident on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had said the President had ordered security agencies to leave nothing unturned until the abducted school children are returned to their parents unhurt.
The AYCF president general called on Nigerians to intensify prayers against the wave of insecurity in the country, particularly the onslaught against education.