Former lawmaker Senator Shehu Sani has highlighted the alarming trend of terrorists turning the kidnapping of school children into a lucrative business in northern Nigeria.
Sani expressed deep concern over the severe problems this has inflicted on the educational sector in the region.
According to Sani, kidnappers strategically employ this heinous act to blackmail the government into paying substantial ransom. He emphasised that the perpetrators are well aware of the public sympathy evoked for the abducted pupils, exerting immense pressure on the government to comply with their demands.
The latest incident unfolded on Thursday morning when terrorists stormed LGEA Primary School, Kuriga (1), in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Approximately 285 pupils and teachers were kidnapped shortly after the morning assembly at 8:20 am.
Reacting to the alarming situation, Sani stated, “The kidnapping of school children by terrorists in Northern Nigeria is a lucrative business. They use it to blackmail the government for huge payments of ransom.
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“They know that it will evoke public sympathy for the pupils and pressure will be mounted on the government to bow to their demands. Many parents in rural areas are now afraid of allowing their children to go to school. This is a serious problem for basic education in Northern Nigeria.
“Though this tragic incident happened, there is a significant drop in the occurrence of such attacks on schools compared to its frequency under the last administration.”
