The Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Alhaji Salihu Mohammed Lukman has asked President Muhammadu Buhari, to probe and prosecute culprits in the abduction of hundreds of students in Katsina state.
Over 500 students of Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), Kankara, Katsina state were abducted by gunmen last Friday in mysterious cicumstances.
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The PGF’s Director-General in a statement on Tuesday, said the circumstances leading to the abduction of the huge number of students was questionable.
“More than any moment in the life of our APC administration at federal level, this is the time when President Muhammadu Buhari is dearly required to demonstrate his no nonsense toga, which is what earned him the love of ordinary Nigerians.
“Certainly, without the collaboration of security personnel, traditional rulers, community leaders and citizens, how can over 500 school children be taken without clear information of their whereabouts for more than 72 hours.
“He should move to arrest all security personnel, traditional and religious leaders who are suspected to be accomplices to the current wave of kidnappings, murder of Nigerians and all the organised crimes taking place in the country.
“The situation requires thorough introspection by not just our security agencies but also imposition of severe sanction against security personnel, traditional and community leaders where kidnappings, banditry and all the crimes consuming the lives of innocent Nigerians are taking place.
“Every police, security personnel, traditional and community leader, located within Kankara or in routes where the GSSS Kankara school children would have passed should be arrested and tried.
“Similarly, everywhere such incidences take place, police, security, traditional and community leaders should be the first line suspect. They should be made to prove their innocence by producing the culprits, failing which, they should be convicted,” he said.
“Depending on the extent of the problem, there is no reason why corporal punishment covering life and death sentences should not be given,” he said.
Recall that in February 2018, over 110 Dapchi students of Yobe state were abducted. In April, 2014, over 270 Chibok schoolgirls were abducted in Borno state. Leah Sharibu and more than 80 schoolgirls are still being held more than six years after.
Just about two weeks ago, more than 70 Zabarmari rice farmers were murdered by the insurgents in the North East.
