Don’t evacuate your children from schools, northern elders beg parents

The Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) yesterday appealed to parents who have children in boarding schools in the region not to be discouraged with the latest incessant kidnappings in both Zamfara and Niger states.

The forum, through its Director Publicity and Advocacy, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, also expressed shock and outrage at the spate of kidnappings of boarding school children in different parts of the North.

• SGF: Nigeria Will Receive 4 Million Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccines On Tuesday
• Zero Discrimination Day: Lessons for Nigeria

The forum, while decrying the increasing danger to life of Nigerians despite assurances from the federal government that it will end banditry and kidnappings, urged parents to resist the temptation of withdrawing their children from schools.

The elders advised governors to examine issues responsible for the spread of banditry at local and community levels and resolve them, saying citizens should organise and raise their levels of vigilance.

Speaking further, Baba-Ahmed emphasized that governors should approach the menace using another approach, saying any bandit that is not ready for peace as initiated by some governors in the region should be dealt with accordingly.