A bitter spit rubbing the face of every Nigerian citizen is how much of an unsecured country the territories have become under Buhari’s watch. It is no news that the country has been characterised by unrelenting terror attacks and security threats to the lives and properties of Nigerian citizens. This again manifested in the recent kidnap and abduction of over 338 students from the Government Science Secondary School, in Kankara, Katsina State.
A bright recap of this saddening event shows that the kidnap took place at about 10 pm on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, when the abductors moved into the school with motorcycles and killed the policeman on duty.
On this day, the bandits carted away about 344 male students from their hostels. A report from the defense ministry states that the bandits moved some of the students with their motorcycles, while the remaining matched in numbers with their legs.
Early the next day, Saturday the 12th of December, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu ordered an additional operation and investigative team to support the ongoing search as a joint mission with the Nigerian military.
On Sunday the 13th of December, the aggrieved parents of the abductees, staged a protest in the streets of Katsina demanding the release of their children from the Katsina State government. Incidentally, on the same day, the federal government delegates led by the minister of defense, Bashir Salihi promised the release to be a very simple mission and that the teenagers would be released unarmed.
Subsequently on that same day, an additional report from the presidency claimed that the military supported by the air force strikers had located the bandits’ enclave at the surrounding forest of Kankara and that a fire exchange was currently going on between the bandits and the security operatives.
On Monday the 14th of December, the governor of Katsina State, Malam Masari briefed the president in his Daura home and he reiterated that contacts and serious efforts are being made to secure the release of the Kankara boys.
Interestingly on Tuesday the 15th of December, neighbouring states like Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa, and Kaduna ordered the closure of schools and termination of inter border activities.
As a shock to Nigerians, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the kidnap in an audio message released by the sect on the same day.
Wednesday the 16th of December, saw the government of Katsina revealed that promising negotiations were ongoing with the Mayetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and that contacts are being made with repentant bandits to help secure the release of the abducted students.
On Thursday the 17th of December, a video went viral on the social media space purportedly showing the abducted boys begging for their release. The said video was released by the Boko Haram sect who claimed responsibility yet again. What a shock to the security operatives and the Nigerian people on this day!
Remarkably, at about 9 pm on that same day Boko Haram insurgents claimed responsibility, the governor of Katsina announced that the 344 Kankara boys were on their way back to safety. He claimed that their return was possible after a series of fruitful negotiations with the bandits.
On Friday the 18th of December, at about 3 pm, the president met the 344 boys at the Aso Villa in Abuja after their release. The president appealed to the students not to be discouraged to head back to school. He reiterated that only substantial knowledge acquisition can drive personal growth and societal development we’ve all been yearning for. He however, made a vow to the students that such will not repeat itself again.
Taking a look at this recap, are we cool to say the journey to freedom of the Kankara boys was a victory for Buhari’s government?
Lend us your suggestions in the comment box while we share the article in peace.
Asunmogejo Yusuf Olawale writes from Lagos state, Nigeria