The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday demanded immediate deployment of new measures including the much-discussed Special Schools Security Scheme, the Schools Vigilante Force, Anti-Kidnapping Squads and others across terror-prone states.
ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, made this known in a statement issued to react to the abduction of the Kaduna State’s students.
He urged the federal government to go beyond perfunctory directives to the security forces to rescue the abducted students and insist on results within specific time frames.
He said the ACF was “gravely saddened and exasperated at the news of the abduction by terrorists/bandits of about 312 students”.
“As a sad reminder about their unabated presence, the terrorists struck again, attacked worshippers, and killed two persons during Friday prayers at Anguwar Makera, Kwasakwasa Community in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
“Together, the incidents looked planned in advance, a most discomfiting reality, given the enormous public resources being allocated to the security sector. As ACF had observed in July, 2023, when students of the Federal University Gusau were abducted (and sadly still in captivity), these disturbing incidents point to the very perilous state of security in the country, and specifically that around school children, a defensively vulnerable population.
“ACF unequivocally decries and condemns the incidents in strong terms and hereby calls for the immediate and unconditional return of the abducted students and pupils, unharmed, to their parents/guardians…”
He said the ACF commended “the fast response” of the Kaduna State Government through a confidence and reassurance-building visit to the community by its officials led by Governor Uba Sani.
Muhammad-Baba said the Forum called on the security forces to adopt more effective strategies to end terrorism “in our communities.”
“Clearly, a regional multi-pronged strategy against the terrorists operating in all contagious states, is called for. In these regards, the security forces should never dither or stay on the course of plain ineptitude and ineffectiveness that characterise the current strategy to contain and stamp out terrorism throughout the country,” he added.
