Tag: Terrorism - Page 10 - African News Today

Please Forgive Us, APC Begs Rescued Kankara Schoolboys

19Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Crime, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Terrorism

Please Forgive Us, APC Begs Rescued Kankara Schoolboys

The ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has appealed to the recently kidnapped and released schoolboys of the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State, to forgive the party for the trauma there experienced during their time in captivity. The party promised the students that the government would intensify efforts to ensure that their learning environment is safe and secure to avert future invasion by armed men. The party disclosed this in a statement signed by the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the APC, Mai Mala Buni, in Abuja on Sunday. Buni in the statement titled, ‘APC Welcomes Release, Commends Security Agents and Demands For Pre-Emptive Measures against Reoccurrence,’ said the party received with “joy and a glad heart” the release and return of the stu...

Kankara Kidnap, Ploy to Embarrass my Government – Buhari

19Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Education, News, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

Kankara Kidnap, Ploy to Embarrass my Government – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has labelled the recent kidnap of over 300 schoolboys from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State, as ploy to embarrass his administration. He said this when he received the rescued students and representatives of their parents at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Katsina, News Agency of Nigeria reports. President Buhari who addressed them in Hausa, said it was not a coincidence that the abduction took place on the very day he visited his home town, Daura after several months. He disclosed that he intends to retire to Daura after completing his second term in office in May 2023, noting that he last visited home 18 months ago. The president promised to leave behind a stable and secure nation at the end of his administration. ...

Kankara Kidnap: Garba Shehu Apologises for Incorrectly Saying Only 10 Schoolboys were Abducted

18Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

Kankara Kidnap: Garba Shehu Apologises for Incorrectly Saying Only 10 Schoolboys were Abducted

The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has apologised to Nigerians for wrongly saying that only ten students were kidnapped at the Government Science School in Kankara, Katsina State. Heavily armed men invaded the school premises last Friday, kidnapping over 300 schoolboys after a gun battle with the police. Shehu after the attack said only 10 students were kidnapped. However, following the release of 344 students by the kidnappers on Thursday night contrary to Shehu’s claim, he has retracted his earlier statement. Shehu in a post on his verified Twitter handle on Friday said, "I apologise for the incorrect communication citing that only ten students were kidnapped at the science school, Kankara." "This communication o...

Breaking: Released Kankara Students Arrive Katsina

18Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Breaking News, News, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

Breaking: Released Kankara Students Arrive Katsina

The abducted schoolboys of Government Science Secondary School released on Thursday night have arrived Katsina State, Punch reports. The schoolboys were led into the state capital by security operatives. The students, some of whom still wore school uniforms were received by Governor Aminu Masari in the Government House. Masari had on Thursday night confirmed the release of 344 abducted schoolboys, adding that the boys were at Tsafe, Zamfara State, and would be transported to Kankara today. According to the governor, the boys were released without payment of ransom. Masari added that the schoolboys would receive comprehensive medical attention before they are reunited with their families.

Kankara Abduction: Buhari Commends Masari, Army for Rescue Operation

18Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Boko Haram, News, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

Kankara Abduction: Buhari Commends Masari, Army for Rescue Operation

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the Nigerian Army for coordinating the rescue operation of hundreds of schoolboys kidnapped from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State. The President noted that his administration and the military have more work to do to curtail the insecurity in the country. This was contained in two-part videos posted on his official Twitter handle, @MBuhari, on Friday. He also lauded Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari for his positive contributions since the kidnap of the schoolboys. Buhari said, “I spoke with the governor. I congratulated him and congratulated the Army that organised the operation, the encirclement of the abductors, and getting the children. The military is well-trained. I think they are sufficiently motivated...

Kankara Kidnap: Bring Back Our Boys Now, Okonjo-Iweala Asks FG

16Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Boko Haram, Crime, Education, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Terrorism, Youths

Kankara Kidnap: Bring Back Our Boys Now, Okonjo-Iweala Asks FG

Former Nigerian Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has told the Federal Government to intensify efforts to bring back the over 300 schoolboys kidnapped from the all-boys Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, State. She said those using the children as pawns must be held accountable. Okonjo-Iweala, who is a top contender for the job of director-general of the World Trade Organisation, disclosed this known in a post on Twitter last night. She wrote, “The abduction of more than 300 schoolboys in Katsina is heartbreaking. What a recurring nightmare. My heart goes out to the families of the missing boys. The authorities must do all possible to #BringBackOurBoys! Those using our children as pawns must be held accountable!” Armed men invade the school on Friday night an...

Boko Haram Claims Responsibility for Kidnapping Students in Katsina

15Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Boko Haram, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Terrorism

Boko Haram Claims Responsibility for Kidnapping Students in Katsina

The Leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau has claimed responsibility for the abduction of about 333 students in Katsina State last week. Shekau in an audiotape released on Tuesday said, “Our brothers were behind the abduction in Katsina,” Guardian reports. A group of men wielding sophisticated rifles on Friday night invaded the all-boys Government Science secondary school in the town of Kankara, abducting over 300 students. Recall that Boko Haram had in April 2014 abducted 276 girls from their school in Chibok, in north-eastern Borno State of which about 100 are yet to be released. The group has been involved in the kidnap of other schoolchildren and lots of people across the north-east and has recently expanded their tentacles. The audio, however, lacked detail on the involvem...

Katsina Abduction: Gov Masari Confirms 333 Out of 839 Students Still Missing

13Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Education, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Terrorism, Violence

Katsina Abduction: Gov Masari Confirms 333 Out of 839 Students Still Missing

Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State on Sunday confirmed that a total of 333 students of Government Science School, Kankara, Katsina State are missing following the bandits’ attack on Friday night. Masari disclosed this when he received a Federal Government delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno on Sunday, Channels Television reports. The governor while explaining that the school has a population of 839 students noted that those abducted cut across board as the school had students from all parts of the state and beyond the state. He said, “Based on the available record we have, we are still searching for 333 students through either the forest or their parents to ascertain the actual number that has been kidnapped,” “We are still counting because mor...

B’Haram, ISWAP Escapees Now Operate as Bandits, Kidnappers – Governors Forum

7Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Boko Haram, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Terrorism, Violence

B’Haram, ISWAP Escapees Now Operate as Bandits, Kidnappers – Governors Forum

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has said that Boko Haram terrorists and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents escaping from military onslaught in the North East, Sudan and Niger Republic are perpetrating kidnapping and banditry in other parts of the country This was disclosed by Kayode Fayemi, NGF Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State on Sunday while speaking with Channels Television. His statement comes on the heels of the recent killing of farmers in Zabarmari, Borno State, by suspected Boko Haram terrorists. Fayemi said that the insecurity in the country has gone beyond the North-East as there is a connection between terrorists’ activities in the North-East and the banditry, kidnapping perpetrated in the southern part of the country. He said, “If a state...

UN Envoy Condemns the Killing of Borno Farmers

3Dec

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Boko Haram, Crime, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism, Violence

UN Envoy Condemns the Killing of Borno Farmers

United Nations (UN) Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, on Wednesday condemned Boko Haram’s murder of rice farmers in Borno State. The Envoy who visited Zabarmari on Tuesday urged stakeholders to “go beyond a security response” in finding a solution to the 119-year-old menace of terrorists in the Northeast. He said: “It is with great sadness, but also indignation, that I met the families of the victims of Saturday’s violent attack and their communities to extend my most sincere condolences, on behalf of the United Nations and humanitarian partners, and to commiserate with them on these atrocious circumstances. “Farmers and villagers I have met have retold accounts of unspeakable cruelty. Innocent civilians – men and women – were ruthlessly killed. “Details on lo...