Bandits block Zamfara highway, abduct travellers, kill soldiers

• CDS rallies security agencies, stakeholders to secure schools in Northeast
• Kano govt announces new date for schools’ resumption

Armed bandits yesterday blocked the Gusau-Funtua highway in Zamfara State, kidnapping an unspecified number of travelers in an early-morning attack. Eyewitnesses report that the bandits, riding on about 50 motorcycles with three persons each, mounted a roadblock around the Tazame axis of the highway around 7 a.m., abducting commuters and taking them into the bush.

MEANWHILE, as the new academic session resumes, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has urged security agencies, parents, civil society organisations (CSOs), traditional and religious leaders to synergise in protecting schools in the Northeast.
 
Musa, who gave the charge, while addressing participants at a one-day workshop, yesterday, at the Command Guest House, Maiduguri, said the protection of children from terrorists’ attacks and kidnappings should not be left to the military alone.
 
He said: “The protection of lives and property is a collective responsibility of all. All hands must be on deck to ensure security in the nooks and crannies of the affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.”
   
He said that the workshop was organised to sentitise the public on the need to protect both public and private schools from terrorists and bandits’ attacks and kidnappings.
 
The CDS, therefore, enjoined participants to feel free and committed to ensuring fruitful deliberations on how to overcome the challenges of insecurity in schools. 

IN another development, Kano State Government has approved Sunday, September 15, as the new resumption date for all boarding public/private primary and post-primary schools in the state for the commencement of the 2024/2025 academic session. Also, pupils and students in Day schools across the state are to resume on Monday, September 16.
 
A statement, yesterday, by the Director of Public Enlightenment in the Ministry of Education, Balarabe Kiru, urged parents and guardians of students to take note of the new resumption date to ensure compliance.
 
The statement also advised students to avoid bringing any illegal items to schools, such as knives or razors, and to obey the rules and regulations.

The statement reiterated the commitment of the administration, under the leadership of Abba Yusuf, to ensure that every child has access to a quality education.
   
Besides, it urged people of the state to continue to cooperate with the ministry, assuring that the state government is taking all necessary steps to ensure an effective teaching and learning environment.