Abduction Of Kebbi Schoolgirls Barbaric — MURIC

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has expressed concern over mass abductions of 25 female students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, and killing of harmless residents in Makirin Village in Kebbi State.

MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, in a statement, described the incident as disturbing, barbaric and inhumane.

MURIC recalled that the two tragic incidents occurred in the spate of 24 hours in Kebbi State.

The Ameer of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Yauri Area Council, Malam Alqasim Uthman Ibrahim, was kidnapped earlier in the day but he was killed within a few hours.

“MURIC Kebbi State chapter strongly condemns these criminal acts. They are egregious, callous and cowardly. They constitute grave violation of human rights, an assault on education and a huge threat to national security.

“We equally denounce the gruesome killing of the vice principal, a Muslim, Mallam Hassan Makuku and the injury inflicted on the school’s guard. We stand in solidarity with the abducted girls, their families, teachers, and the entire community”, MURIC said.

Akintola called on the federal government, Kebbi State government and all relevant security agencies to intensify and sustain search-and-rescue operations, leveraging on intelligence, military, police, and local resources.

He added that the presidential directive to security agencies to locate and bring back the abducted students safely, and to prosecute those responsible must not be taken with levity.

“Citizens must see reason to trust in the government’s capacity to protect its citizens.

“It is laughable that some people have said that the unfortunate incident occurred in a ‘Christian enclave’. That is far from the truth.

“There is actually no Christian enclave as such in Kebbi. The vice principal who was killed was a Muslim. People can also see from television footages that the parents who have been visiting the school since the incident are all clad in hijab. They are Muslims.

“The federal government needs to treat banditry especially mass kidnappings, as a top-tier national security threat, not just a localized criminal matter. We want to lay emphasis on the need for the government to ensure that those who carried out the abduction as well as their collaborators are arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

He charged the legislative arm of government to strengthen the executive by enacting laws that will ensure punitive measures against banditry as deterrence. “Kidnapping for ransom must be met with clear and certain consequences.”

He further charged the judiciary to ensure the smooth administration of justice within a reasonable time using all judicial tools at its disposal. “The executive must ensure that judgements are executed on the offenders no matter whose ox is gored.”

MURIC also called on the Kebbi State Government to strengthen coordination with its neigbours to close safe routes used by bandits.

“This should include enhancing the role of local hunter groups who know the terrain and can support rescue and patrol efforts”, it added.

MURIC enjoined the government to deploy additional security personnel to vulnerable border schools and remote communities, especially in areas with high risks of bandits’ incursions.

“Governments at all levels need to encourage community reporting in such a way that residents must feel safe and empowered to provide intelligence to security agencies.

“We request that government and well-to-do individuals should provide support for the affected families: trauma counseling, educational support to the affected families.

“Most importantly, however, Imams should activate alqunut prayers in all our mosques for peaceful repose of those killed, safe return of the abducted and continuous peace and tranquility in Kebbi State and the nation at large.

“To the religious extremists and other politically motivated groups, as well as ethnic jingoists, they should know that this incident happened in a Muslim-dominated area. The abduction is a purely criminal action that has no religious or ethnic dimension.

“This is not the time for playing politics or for exhibiting religious extremism. What is needed now is well coordinated and concerted efforts from all and sundry that will salvage Nigeria from the current crisis. We believe that solution must come from within Nigeria itself. We believe in the country’s capacity to navigate itself from the criss”, dded.

MURIC reiterated that the abduction of these 25 school girls in GGCSS, Maga, Kebbi state must not be seen as a local or isolated tragedy, saying that it was a national crisis that demands urgent, decisive, and sustained action.

“We call on all stakeholders — government, security agencies, civil society and community leaders to respond with the seriousness and coordination that this moment demands. The safe return of these girls, and the prevention of future attacks, is not negotiable,” he added.