In reaction to bandits’ outrageous abduction of female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Zamfara, on Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari says there is a reason his regime is exercising restraint.

Mr. Buhari explained his reason in a statement issued on Friday.
See the full text below.

Our primary objective is to get all the school hostages safe, alive and unharmed.

We have the capacity to deploy massive force against the bandits in the villages where they operate, but our limitation is the fear of heavy casualties of innocent villagers and hostages who might be used as human shields by the bandits.

A hostage crisis is a complex situation that requires maximum patience in order to protect the victims from physical harm or even brutal death at the hands of their captors.

Let bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists not entertain any illusions that they are more powerful than the government. They shouldn’t mistake our restraint for the humanitarian goals of protecting innocent lives as a weakness or a sign of fear or irresolution.

Let me say this again: We will not succumb to blackmail by bandits and criminals who target innocent school students in the expectation of huge ransom payments.

State Governments must also review their policy of rewarding bandits with money and vehicles. Such a policy has the potential to backfire with disastrous consequences. States and Local Governments must also play their part by being proactive in improving security in and around schools.