Tijjani Tumsah, a former Interim National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, has urged security agencies to deplore all resources to put an end to the abduction of schoolchildren for ransom.

Mr. Tumsah, in a statement, expressed shock and sadness over the Friday abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls in Jangebe, Zamfara.

The APC chieftain disclosed that it was disturbing that the abduction happened when the Zamfara government was pursuing a peace deal with repentant bandits.

He said school abductions and killings by bandits required a multi-pronged approach to ending the country’s insecurity.

He demanded the schoolgirls’ immediate and safe release, insisting that the bandits and their collaborators should face the full wrath of the law.

“The kidnapping of schoolchildren in their dormitories will, no doubt, negatively affect learning as no meaningful academic activities can take place in an insecure environment.

“Attacks on schools may also discourage some parents from sending their kids to school, and the consequence of having a generation without proper education can be best imagined than experienced,” Mr. Tumsah explained.

The APC chieftain, therefore, urged the government at all levels to ensure that academic institutions are well secured to prevent attacks. 

(NAN)