Protest breaks out in Katsina over abduction of schoolboys

By Emmanuel Awosika

Protesters in Kastina State on Sunday called for the immediate rescue of schoolboys abducted from the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, in Kankara Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered the protesters, some of whom are parents of the abductees, marched around the school and the surrounding area, chanting songs.

They also bore placards with messages asking the government to rescue the schoolboys and restore security to the area.

This is as a group, the Coalition of Northern Groups, warned that it would organise large-scale protests if authorities failed to rescue the boys quickly.

“We condemn in totality this barbaric act and call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the culprits, we equally stress the inability of the government to protect those young, innocent, vibrant students from this horrible attack as uncalled for.

“Failure of the government to rescue the missing students within the shortest period of time, CNG will not hesitate to mobilize hundreds of thousands on the streets of Katsina state for a continuous protest, until the students are fully rescued, even if it’s going to cost our lives,” Chairman of the North-West zone of the group, Jamiu Aliyu, said at a press conference in Kastina.

According to reports, the students were taken away from the school late on Friday night by armed men.

The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from various quarters, with some accusing the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government of ineptitude in providing security for its citizens.