declare a state of emergency in states struggling to deal with banditry
and Boko Haram terrorism.The former VP also called for the deployment of 24-hour military
protection in schools around states battling with insecurity.
Atiku also asked the federal government to discontinue the boarding
school system until the security situation is brought under control.
The former vice president asked the government to change strategies in
tackling banditry, and also declare a state of emergency in states
affected by insecurity.
“The abduction of a large number of students at the Government Science
Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State, is a very unwelcome
escalation of the spate of insecurity in the nation, one which I condemn
in the strongest possible terms,” Atiku said.
“I sympathise with the parents of the abducted children and the
government and people of Katsina, my adopted home state and home of my
late benefactor, Tafida Shehu Musa Yar’adua. I pray for their safe
return.
“While I urge our nation’s law enforcement agencies to immediately swing
to action and rescue the missing students, I am nevertheless conscious
of the fact that we cannot continue to be reactionary in our response to
the growing insecurity in Nigeria. Something has to give.
“I therefore call on the Federal Government to immediately declare a
state of emergency in states bedevilled by banditry and terrorism, for
an offensive and decisive war on terror and insecurity.
“The rationale is quite simple: We cannot win the war on terror by
continuing with the same strategies we have deployed over the last five
years. That they have not worked is very glaring, with the Government
Science Secondary School, Kankara incidence being the latest in a long
line of proofs.
“If we must get better results, we must implement better strategies.
Strategies that may have to include the temporary stoppage of the
boarding school system, in favour of a day students approach until the
situation is brought under control. Strategies that must include 24
hours armed military guard for each school in the affected states.”
Following the attack, Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina, ordered the
immediate closure of all boarding secondary schools in the state.