Abuja: Over 200 girls who were kidnapped by over 100 unidentified gunmen during an overnight attack at their school in the early hours of the morning on Friday 26 February, were released today, local officials said. Apparently, as some reports suggested, the abducted schoolgirls arrived in Gusau at 5am Tuesday morning on a bus, four days after their kidnapping. Addressing them in Government House, Zamfara Governor Bello Matawalle said they should take their ordeal in good faith and that the enemies would be shamed. He also tweeted pictures of the released school girls.
“It gladdens my heart to announce the release of the abducted students… from captivity,” Governor Matawalle also tweeted, where he further stated: “This follows the scaling of several hurdles laid against our efforts. I enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to rejoice with us as our daughters are now safe.”
Matawalle stated that the kidnapped girls were safely released to the local authorities and no ransom was paid to the kidnappers. He said they were being brought back home. Matawalle said following the abduction, he had initiated a peace accord “which yielded a positive result”. Some news reports also quoted him saying that “repentant” bandits in the state assisted security agencies in the operation that led to the rescue of Jangebe school girls.
While local police had earlier reported abduction of 317 girls, Matawalle said the number of girls who were kidnapped was 279, all of whom have now been safely returned.
Also read: Gunmen abduct 317 school girls from hostel in Nigeria; Military called for search operation
“We are relieved at the news of the reported release of over 200 students..,” UNICEF Nigeria Representative Peter Hawkins said and added: “While we rejoice at the release of the schoolgirls and look forward to their safe return to their families, we reiterate that attacks on students and schools are not only reprehensible but a violation of the right of children to an education. It is a right that any society can ill-afford to violate.”
UNICEF has called on the Government of Nigeria to take all measures to protect schools in the country so that children will not be fearful of going to school, and parents afraid of sending their children to school.
“Schools must be safe places to study and develop, and learning should not become a risky endeavour.
“UNICEF will be providing psychosocial support to the girls and their families and working with the Ministry of Education on how to ensure the safe return to school of all children in Zamfara State,” Hawkins said.
– global bihari bureau
