The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) Geneva, Switzerland, Nigerian Committee says it is saddened that not much progress has been made to free the hundreds of students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, in Katsina State, north western Nigeria after almost a week of their abduction by gunmen.
The gunmen suspected to be bandits were reported to have invaded the school’s premises around 11: 00 p.m. Friday night in large numbers, on motorbikes.
In a statement signed by the Coordinator, Northwest, Ibrahim Ladan, IHRC noted that the gunmen had earlier attacked the Kankara town, injuring many residents though repelled by security forces.
IHRC therefore sympathises with the Federal and Katsina state governments and in particular families of the students, the school authorities and those terrorized by the incident.
While IHRC commends the various efforts of security agencies in stemming activities of gunmen in the country, it frowned at the poor response in aborting the Kankara incident.
“To assuage the anger of the citizens, IHRC therefore calls on security agencies to redouble efforts to speedily bring back the students safely and ensure that their abductors do not escape justice.”
The statement further called on the government to do more in finding lasting solutions to the intractable problem, and cautions against making any gain out of it. “It’s a moment for united action to defeat terror and not to do anything that could embolden the perpetrators.
On the other hand also IHRC encourage the government to listen to voice of reason that provides alternative options in dealing with the devastating situation. Similarly, we wish to advise the government to be accommodative in dealing with the anger and frustration of the citizens over this saga.”
IHRC however noted with regret that despite several official reassurances of responsiveness in rising to the occasion, the incident had further heightened the state of insecurity and brought infamy to the country, moving it to the club of 10 top kidnapping countries in the world and a leading ranking in Africa.
“It’s also a matter of concern to IHRC, that banditry violence is fast becoming part of the daily life of populations particularly living in the northwest states of Zamfara, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi and Katsina as well as Niger from the north central.
“Credible sources said that the violence has affected about 21 million people in 35 out of 92 local government areas in the these states. By March 2020, record showed more than 210,000 people have been internally displaced with more than 35,000 refugees crossed borders to Niger Republic. In fact, between January and June, 2020 alone no fewer than 1,100 villagers were killed by bandits; and 7,900 more were internally displaced in these States because of the conflict.”
“In addition to displacement the violence has hampered agricultural activities and heightened the risk of acute food insecurity. Livelihoods have been disrupted; fear and insecurity among the population have increased, with IDPs and host communities competing for scarce resources such as water, land and food. Protection concerns are heightened for the vulnerable- women, children and the elderly, while security, food and water sanitation and hygiene have become priority needs in the affected areas. ”
IHRC said it is worried about the effects of this on Nigeria’s sustainable development in the light of public safety, capital and investment flight as well as its negative consequences on trade, tourism and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
IHRC urged the media to do more at providing better understanding of this complex and fluid scene of insecurity to collectively, create a measure of order and security in this region while for partnership with the media to build capacity of journalists to effectively bring to the fore humanitarian situations in the region fairly, honestly, courageously and constructively.
