December 19, 2020
A 14 year-old former child soldier draws at a school in Ndenga village, Kaga Bandoro, Central African Republic. Courtesy file photo
NEW YORK United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday welcomed the release of more than 300 schoolboys forcibly taken from their school in northwest Nigeria a week ago, although others reportedly remain missing.
After the release of the boys kidnapped by armed men from Government Science Secondary School in Kankara, on Dec. 11, Guterres called for the “immediate and unconditional release of those who remain abducted”.
In a statement issued by his Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, Guterres commended “the swift action taken by the Nigerian authorities to rescue the children” while also stressing the importance that those children and their families are now “provided with the necessary health and psychosocial support”.
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Nigeria Buhari: Children Ordeal Was little Difficulty
The students nightmare began on the night of Dec. 11 when they were seized by men armed with AK-47 rifles from the all-boys Government Science Secondary School in Kankara village in Katsina state in northwestern Nigeria.
More than 330 Nigerian schoolboys, who were freed after they were kidnapped last week in an attack on their school met with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday who told them they should not be deterred in life by this little difficulty.
The relatively quick release of the boys took place after a prompt response by the government, which appears to have learned from earlier mass school abductions, especially of the Chibok schoolgirls, that did not have such a happy result.
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Nigerian Schoolboys Released from Kidnappers
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria said on Friday the country’s government would “keep on trying” to secure the country for all of its citizens after hundreds of boys kidnapped last week from their school were freed on Thursday night following six days in captivity.
We thank God that the law enforcement agencies in this case, especially the military, the Army and the governor, worked extremely hard. And as soon as they got them, the governor rang me and informed me, and I congratulated him and the Army that organized the operation. Our responsibility, as I said, is to secure this country for all the citizens to do their businesses without any problem. We haven’t achieved that yet, but we will keep on trying.
Nigeria Witnesses Teary Reunions: Over 300 Abducted School Boys Freed
The students nightmare began on Dec 11 when they were seized by men armed with AK-47 rifles from the Government School in Nigeria s Kankara village
Representational Image Associated Press (AP) 2020-12-19T16:42:47+05:30 Nigeria Witnesses Teary Reunions: Over 300 Abducted School Boys Freed outlookindia.com 2020-12-19T16:48:38+05:30
Bleary, barefoot, apparently numbed by a week of captivity, more than 300 Nigerian schoolboys, freed after being kidnapped in an attack on their school, were welcomed by the governor of Katsina state and Nigeria s president on Friday.
Reunions with their parents began late in the day.
Tinubu reacts to release of 334 kankara school boys
Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives
Congress, APC, on Saturday, commended President Muhammadu Buhari over his
prompt intervention in rescuing the over 300 kidnapped students of Government
Science Secondary School in Kankara, Katsina State.
Tinubu said the release of the students was an indication
that Buhari was committed to ending insecurity in Nigeria.
In a statement by his Media Aide, Tunde Rahman, the APC
National Leader said Buhari was determined to “see the back of bandits and
insurgents in the land.”
The former Lagos State Governor also commended the Katsina
State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari and the armed forces for working tirelessly