Ringtrue By Yemi Adebowale 08054699539Â Email: yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com
For years, Sokoto State was the most peaceful up North. It was immune from religious riot, kidnapping, banditry and all sorts of terrorism associated with most states in this region. I often remember my NYSC days in this once beautiful state with so much nostalgia. Back then, we frequently roved from one end of the state to the other, visiting co-NYSC members, from Ilela to Tangaza, to Gudu, Tureta, Sabon Birni and further. All these are now history. My beloved Sokoto is now one of the states under the servitude of Fulani militias, with unending stories of innocent people being killed and maimed. The last three years have been horrendous.
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Niger State governor, Sani Bello, has appealed to the 24 students of Government Science College in Kagara freed by their abductors in the early hours of Saturday not to let the incident discourage them from pursuing their education.
The governor charged the students to see the development as one of life’s lessons and be resolved to continue schooling. Bello, who spoke while receiving the students as well as six staff of the school and eight of their relatives in Minna, the state capital, promised to address the root cause of banditry in the state.
Among the 38 released, one was said to have been hospitalised due to excessive exhaustion. They were said to have been freed at a location around Kaduna State early on Saturday.
•Kagara students, others regain freedom
•Bello: They went through hell
•PDP demands explanation for alleged military complicity
Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Alex Enumah in Abuja, Laleye Dipo in Minna and Francis Sardauna in Katsina
President Muhammadu Buhari has advised school owners across the country as well as religious organisations, to scale up security in their environments, saying this was in keeping faith with the standards laid down by the United Nations-backed Safe School Programme of his administration.
This followed the release of the kidnapped students of Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State, their teachers and some of their relations, who would soon be reunited with their families.