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Member representing Ngaski/Shanga/ Yauri Federal Constituency of Kebbi State in the House of Representatives, Rep Tanko Sununu, on Wednesday said over 90 students abducted from the Federal Government College, Yauri, are still in captivity.
This is as he has called on the federal and state governments to intensify efforts to ensure safe release of the students still held by bandits.
Daily Trust reports that over 100 students of Federal Government College, Yauri, including some staff, were abducted over a month ago.
Speaking to our correspondent via telephone, Rep Sununu said though, he was aware of efforts being made by the government to secure release of the students, more efforts, he said, needed to be deployed to expedite their safe release.
When asked of the number of students still in captivity, Rep Sununu who could not ascertain the exact number, however, said over 90 are still with the bandits.
“The total number of students kidnapped were 103 , but somewhere along the line some where killed. I think about 92 or 95, I’m not exactly sure are the numbers still with the armed bandits now.
“The update is that the government is doing its own best to see how they can rescue the students. The details of negotiation or whatever is being done is what I cannot tell now. Even some few days ago, I was with the state governor and he assured me they are doing a lot. It’s not up to a week now.
“The difficulty now is that the bandits are not in one location because immediately after the abduction, they moved towards parts of Niger State en route to Zamfara. But negotiation is ongoing. This is also to call on the government to put in more efforts to ensure these students are safely released. It is very important because this will give parents the confidence back into the school system.
“As it is now, most parents are becoming jittery of sending their children to boarding schools and the continued attacks on institutions to make western education forbidden is indirectly gaining momentum. I think the Federal Government needs to do something to address this or else we will continue to lag behind”, he said.
He added that the final year students of the College whose exams were disrupted have been moved to another school where they are now writing their NECO and would subsequently write their WAEC examination in the same centre.
Rep Sununu appealed to the Federal Government to establish a military base in Yauri Emirate to secure the area from the incessant attacks by bandits.
