The Kaduna State Government has said that bandits stormed Government Science Secondary School, Ikara, Ikara Local Government Area, in an attempt to kidnap students, but the students utilized the security warning system in place, and were thus able to alert security forces.
The State Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, while briefing newsmen on Sunday on the security update of the state explained that, “Between the late hours of Saturday night and the early hours of today, suspected bandits stormed the Government Science Secondary School, Ikara, Ikara Local Government Area, in an attempt to kidnap the students.
“Fortunately, the students utilized the security warning system in place, and were thus able to alert security forces in the area. The security forces comprising the troops of the Nigerian Army, Police and some security volunteers moved swiftly to the school and engaged the bandits, forcing them to flee.”
He stated that the military and the police were still on the trail of the armed bandits.
He explained that following a head count by the school management, the Kaduna State Government confirmed that all 307 students have been verified safe and present, stressing that the attempted kidnap was foiled completely and no student was taken from the school.
Samuel Aruwan further explained that similarly, around Ifira village in Igabi Local Government Area, bandits attempted to attack a senior staff quarters around the Kaduna Airport general area.
He noted that the attempt was also foiled as troops of the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Army engaged and repelled them, with several of them escaping with gunshot wounds.
According to him, the Kaduna State Government acknowledges the efforts of the security agencies in the recent rescue of 180 students in the vicinity of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, pointing out that these efforts have being mentioned in interviews given by some of the rescued students.
The State Rapid Response Team on Gender-based violence made this disclosure on Sunday in Ibadan, the State capital.
The team noted that it recorded the figure between March 2020 and February, 2021.
Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Marcus Williams, while speaking said there is a need to quickly respond to the plight of the girl-child and women whom he described as the most vulnerable to gender based violence in the society.
He explained that most of the cases reported happened in the rural communities.
He added that there is the need by the government to collaborate with community leaders and sensitize them on the role to play in reducing the shameful acts and ensure that parents play active roles in giving their children both formal and informal education.
Williams while speaking further explained that the Rapid Response Team did not only rescue the survivors, but also supported them and handled each case to positive conclusions.
He said, “All the cases reported were swiftly responded to with provision of psychosocial support, healthcare, alternative shelter, educational, nutrition and legal support as the case may be, and all these were made possible by the Oyo State government.
“The society has to rise up and take up responsibility, parents should see this as a clarion call for them to take good care of their kids in the areas of moral upbringing and basic education that will give the children direction in life.
“Government cannot do it all, in fact, the State has done so much to eradicate this canker worm and other stakeholders should also do their bid so that we will see the end of the problem of gender-based violence.”
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Sanni who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Christiana Abioye, appreciated the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration for the support given to the team to perform optimally and also recognized the efforts of the team, its dedication to duty and selfless service to humanity by tackling cases of gender-based violence swiftly.
She charged the team not to relent and be more holistic and diligent in handling all cases reported, while not hesitating to apply the necessary enabling laws in discharging their duties.
“We have laws on ground against perpetrators and we will ensure that necessary actions and punishments are meted out to them.”
Some persons suspected to be kidnappers have again launched an ambush on travellers in Ekiti State, killing one person while the whereabouts of others remain unknown as at press time.
According to DAILY POST, the incident was about the seventh in recent times in the state, with casualties recorded in most cases.
It was learnt that victims of the latest attack were ambushed on Saturday evening, at a location between Ikere Ekiti, the headquarters of Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State and Iju, a boundary town in Ondo State.
The victims were said to have been waylaid after the hoodlums suddenly came from the bush to stop their vehicles with guns.
It was not clear as of the time of this report if occupants of about three vehicles allegedly involved managed to escape with their passengers.
Confirming the incident to newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, Spokesman for the Police Command, ASP Sunday Abutu said one person lost his life to the attack.
According to the PPRO the passenger’s Sharon Mini Bus involved was coming from Ondo State and heading to Ekiti when the incident happened.
He said the Command had already launched a “discrete investigation and serious manhunt” to unmask the gunmen.
He disclosed that the driver of the bus managed to escape from the scene with the vehicle and ran to Ilupeju-Ikere Divisional Police Headquarters in Ekiti State to report the incident.
“The driver accounted that he was brave enough to have speedily escaped with his passengers from the scene but in the process, one of the passengers was unfortunately hit by a bullet and was rushed to the General Hospital, Ikere-Ekiti where he later died.
“The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police implores everyone in the State not to panic as the Command shall join forces with Ondo State Police Command to ensure that the perpetrators are made to face the full wrath of the law,” he said.
Abutu called on people of the state with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the gunmen not to hesitate doing so at any nearest police station or contact the phone number – 08062335577.
