The United States government, yesterday, tasked the Federal Government to ensure those involved in the abductions of schoolgirls and students/pupils in Kebbi and Niger states were brought to book.
This came as the Presidency disclosed yesterday that the US government had agreed to establish a joint working group to enhance counterterrorism operations and deepen security cooperation between both countries.
US, Nigeria agree to fight terror
The group aims to expedite the arms request by Nigeria and share intelligence with the Federal Government.
This is even as Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Niger State, also yesterday released the full list of the students and staff of the school still in the forest with their captors, saying of the 265 declared still missing, 239 were children in the nursery and primary sections of the school.
Endangered future
Amnesty International Nigeria also warned that the wave of mass kidnappings in schools could severely derail educational progress across Northern Nigeria.
On the charge on Nigeria to deal with abductors of students in Kebbi and Niger states, the US, in a tweet by its Bureau of African Affairs, also urged the Federal Government to do more to protect Christians.
It said: “The United States condemns the mass abduction of reportedly over 300 students and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, Nigeria and the kidnapping, just days before, of 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State.
‘’Those responsible for these crimes must be swiftly captured and held accountable. The Nigerian government must act decisively and do more to protect Christians and ensure Nigerians can live, learn and practice their religion freely without fear or terror.”
Recall that gunmen had on November 17, stormed Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School at Maga in Kebbi State, killing the vice principal, Hassan Makuku, and abducting at least 25 female students.
