Panic At Nyanya School, As Gunmen Snatch School Bus Shortly After Pupils Disembarked
Parents of the Pupils of Vine International Academy school at Nyanya, the area that had witnessed two Boko Haram’s bomb blasts on April 14 and last week, beseiged the school to retrieve their children today as news filtered in that unknown gunmen attempted to abduct the pupils.
Information reaching us said that the gunmen trailed the school coasta bus that was conveying the pupils to the school and eventually took the bus from the driver.
It was gathered that the invaders drove the vehicle away from the school’s premises minutes after the pupils disembarked from it.
It was gathered however that none of the pupils or members of staff was hurt, but the gunmen went away with the school bus.
An official of the school who would not want his name mentioned said that it was not immediately known if the gunmen were members of Boko Haram or if they are robbers.
“The sad thing is that parents do not want to know if it is Boko Haram or not. Many of them are coming to take away their children out of panic.”
Residents of Nyanya are now living in fear of further attacks.
Meanwhile, eight other girls were said to have been abducted by unknown gunmen in a place near Gwoza in Borno state yesterday.
The girls, said to be between the ages of 12 to 15 were abducted in Warabe village of Gwoza Local government area of Borno state.
The gunmen were said to have also carted away foodstuff and livestocks belonging to the villagers before fleeing into the bush.
Gwoza is about 160 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.
A resident of Warabe village, Mallam Bello Umar said that he was a resident of the village before he ran and settled in Gwoza following the increasing cases of Boko Haram attacks in Warabe and other neighbouring villages in Gwoza council area.
” A group of terrorists invaded Warabe village on Sunday night, abducted 8 of our teenage girls before carting away our foodstuffs and livestock.
“As I am talking to you now, I have ran to Gwoza council headquarters, and even in Gwoza, we are restricted around the council secretariat due to the fear of the terrorists. The situation is so pathetic as almost all Gwoza people, including villagers who came for safety are only restricted in a safer zone close to the council secretariat where there is enough presence of security personnel.”
Nigerian troops are reported to be massing to launch an assault on the Boko Haram enclave in Sambisa forest to free hundreds of schoolgirls kidnapped whom they abducted from their school a fortnight ago, even as the Senate President, David Mark insisted on full military action against the sect as it is now clear that they are trying the will of the government and Nigerians.
What Exactly Is Going On In Chibok, Borno? By Josephine Babatunde
Rarely are the real mothers of the girls seen these days on television as some really concerned women and opportunists have taken the centre stage and relishing the attendant publicity pushing the parents to the background.
But at least, some measures of good are coming from the situation as a stakeholders’ meeting by First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has come up with a startling revelation that the recalcitrance of Governors Murtala Nyako of Borno State, Kashim Shettima of Borno and Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe may have inadvertently left the nation with this nauseating situation.
Head of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Nigerian Office, Charles Eguridu, told the
stakeholders gathered with Mrs. Jonathan the fertile ground that led to the abduction of the girls was laid, after its request to the state governments for the relocation of the examination centre was ignored.
His story: “When we made that representation (letter) to the three affected states, none of them responded to
the honourable minister’s request.
“We followed it up and I directed my zonal coordinator in Borno state in particular, to liaise with the Ministry of Education in Borno State, and the response we got was so disheartening. We were told that they had security in place for the candidates and that we should come and conduct the examination in the schools and that they were not ready to relocate their students from Chibok and other areas to Maiduguri or nearby locations where security agencies could provide security.
“They said if we failed to conduct the examinations, the world would blame us. And so at great risk, my officers went to Chibok and conducted the examinations.
“After the unfortunate incident in which the students were said to have been abducted, our staff now got a response from the state that they were then ready to relocate the remaining students to another place called Ubah. And, as I speak, 189 candidates are continuing with the examination in Ubah.”
While the most important move now is to get our daughters back home to us, away from the wicked and ravenous wolves that keep them, it is about time someone told the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors of these three states that while they may choose to play politics over other matters, they should not do it at the risk of the lives of our children. In addition, political gymnastics with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) controlled federal government may be acceptable in some circumstances, but playing politics with a sub-regional agency is the basest of political behaviour. See where it has led the state government.
And who is to say the Borno State government is not to blame? While this is not the best of times for blame-sharing, it has become increasingly clear that the federal government should cease wanting to do what is politically correct and impose full and comprehensive emergency rule in the three states of the north-east, more so when the governors are intemperate.
Away from irresponsible leaders, the federal government should bring to bear, its mighty weight upon the French-colonised countries of Niger, Cameroon, and Chad.
A few oil deals the way of France may work the wonders that is required to bend France over backwards, while a strong message is delivered to these countries like General Muhammadu Buhari did in the early 80s when a similar group toyed with our territorial integrity.
That bloody nose still remains fresh in the mind of our neighbours and a reiteration of our capacity to do it on a larger scale is needed at this time so that enemies without and within will know better not to mess with the federal government.
Still on the matter of the kidnapped girls, it is a wonder that those who claim to be our international friends with all the technologies in space were oblivious of the movement of the fanatics who moved around and captured 200 girls and redistributed them across countries as it has been claimed in some quarters.
Friends, indeed! Also, while contributing to debates on the floor of the National Assembly, lawmakers regaled the nation with the activities of the so-called Boko Haram operatives, including how they were marrying the abducted girls. It makes you wonder how they know so much so soon.
Moreover, how come our daughters are escaping from the insurgents when it appears the army is helpless. So, what exactly is going on in Chibok, Borno State?
Josephine contributed this piece from Festac Town, Lagos.