Kidnapped Students: Buhari rejects pleas to visit school, visits his cows instead

At least 600 students were feared abducted by armed bandits on Friday.

ELFREDAH KEVIN-ALERECHI • December 14, 2020

Photo of Muhammadu Buhari checking his cows used to illustrate this story (Credit: Channels TV)

President Muhammadu Buhari checked up on his cows in his home Katsina State on Monday, despite showing defiance amidst calls for him to visit the school where 600 students were kidnapped over the weekend.

A video obtained by Sahara Reporters showed the president visiting his cows and in Daura on Monday afternoon.

The president had rejected calls to visit Kankara, home to the high school that was raided by bandits, instead choosing to send a federal government delegation from Abuja, the nation’s capital. Kankara is about 190km (a two and half hours drive) by road from Daura while Abuja is some 384km away.

The president has faced criticism for his failure to show empathy repeatedly during a time of grief for Nigerians.

Two weeks ago, the president rejected similar calls to visit Zabarmari, the community that witnessed the massacre of rice farmers by members of jihadist Boko Haram sect.

A spokesman for the president did not return a request seeking comments about his defiance to visit Kankara and sympathise with families of kidnapped schoolboys.

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