.AYGF decry mass abduction of school children

Apparently worried by the rising spate of kidnapping in the country, the Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmen, yesterday, urged President Bola Tinubu not to hesitate to remove any head of the security agencies that is found wanting in his or her responsibilities.

This was as the Africa Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF) yesterday lamented that 10 years after the abduction of Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram, Nigeria has witnessed over 17 mass kidnapping of hapless citizens.

AYGF also called on the international community to intervene and ensure the safe return of the kidnapped children.

The Executive Director of AYGF, Dr. Arome Salifu, who disclosed this in Abuja at a press briefing on the recent kidnap of school children in Kaduna and Sokoto states, demanded for an urgent rescue of the children.

Briefing newsmen after meeting with President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, Secretary of the Forum of APC Chairmen, Alphonsus Eba, explained that the issue of insecurity was raised during their closed door meeting with the Commander-in-Chief.

Eba, who fielded a question on the menace of kidnapping, especially the school children in Kaduna, said: “On the question of the kidnap of pupils in Kaduna State, yes it forms one of the issues about the general insecurity in the country that we raised as a matter of concern to Mr. President.”

“We said we are more concerned because from our vintage position, it is very clear there are a lot of distractions going on in this country. There are activities of criminals that are being perpetrated to put the government and our party in a bad light.

“We have commended Mr. President for the  moral and financial support that he has given to security agencies. But we came with one humble advice that we gave to Mr. President today as Forum of Chairmen to say that nobody expects Mr. President as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to carry arms and go to the battlefield.

“That is why he has his lieutenants as security agencies in various areas; and what we have told Mr. President today by way of advice, is that it is time for people to be held accountable for their actions. Where a District Police Officer or a Commissioner of Police or whoever that is in control of whatever security architect at whatever level is found wanting, Mr. President should wield the big stick. That was part of what we discussed today.”

Asked whether the issue of the crisis in Edo State also formed the crux of their discussions with the President, Eba, who is the APC Chairman in Cross River State, said: “The Edo State issue came up yesterday (Thursday) in our meeting. We discussed it extensively. We had reached some conclusions, but it was not one of the issues we discussed with Mr. President today (Friday) because there are still internal party affairs that we are rising up from here now to continue a meeting with the National Chairman of our party and the NWC.

“Issues around Edo that you are aware that are already in the public glare are just a storm in a tea cup and will be resolved at that level of the party leadership. So, we did not discuss that with Mr. President.”