Unicef hails release of abducted hostages in Nigeria

THE UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) has welcomed the release of hostages from a school in north-central Nigeria.

“I am relieved to receive the longawaited news of the release of 27 students of the Government Science College in Kagara abducted from their school over a week ago and I look forward to their safe return to their families,” Peter Hawkins, representative for Unicef Nigeria, said at the weekend.

“As the freed students return to their families, I commiserate with the family of their fallen school mate, Benjamin Habila, who was shot dead during the overnight attack on the school. My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Benjamin, who has suffered a huge loss,” said Hawkins.

On February 17, a group of gunmen stormed the boarding school in Kagara town of the Rafi local government area of the Niger state, abducting 42 people, including 27 learners, three school staffers and 12 family members of school staff, and killing one learner.

After their release, boys were seen by a Reuters witness walking with armed security through a dusty village, some struggling to stand and asking for water. A government official said they were aged 15 to 18.

The release comes a day after the raid on a school in Zamfara state where gunmen seized 317 girls. Police on Saturday mounted a hunt for the girls, while parents waited in the school for information on their children.

On, Lawal Muhammed, was hopeful his daughter would be released, saying the abductors wanted a ransom which could be paid.

School kidnappings in Nigeria were first carried out by Jihadist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, but the tactic has now been adopted by other militants whose agenda is unclear.

In a statement on Friday, the presidency said President Muhammadu Buhari had urged state governments “to review their policy of rewarding bandits with money and vehicles, warning that the policy might boomerang disastrously”.

The unrest has become a political problem for Buhari, a retired general and former military ruler who has faced mounting criticism over highprofile attacks by the gangs known locally as “bandits”.

Buhari replaced his long-standing military chiefs this month amid worsening violence.