Atiku Weeps, as Gunmen Kill 58 Students in Yobe State
Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar said he broke down in tears when he was informed of the massacre of dozens of students of Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Gujiba Local Government Area of Yobe State by gunmen suspected to be members of the Islamist Boko Haram Group.
“My heartfelt condolences go to families of the slain school pupils. It is unfortunate that innocent school children, will become victims of armed attacks," he said.
Atiku, in a statement released by his media office in Abuja particularly frowned at the impression given by President Goodluck Jonathan at his Presidential Media Chat on Monday that the government has been successful at pushing armed attacks to the fringes of the country.
“This will not be the first time in recent times that school children are being attacked, and it is particularly disheartening that the Federal Government is yet to devise a strategy of keeping our schools safe from terror attacks. If our counter-insurgency strategies are not strong enough to keep our children safe inside their schools, then one must wonder if such a strategy isn’t mere chasing shadows,” Atiku said.
"It is important that the Federal Government ups its counter-insurgency strategy and desist from taking credits in pushing armed attacks to the fringes, as the president would like to put it. No Nigerian’s life is less in value to another.”
According to him, it is imperative for government to ensure security in schools, in particular the Federal Government Colleges because of their unique role in forging national unity among pupils from diverse backgrounds in the country.
At least 58 students were killed, including many who were burned alive.
The militants set fire to a locked dormitory at the school in Yobe state , then shot and slit the throats of students who tried to escape through windows during the pre-dawn attack on Tuesday.
Female students were spared in the attack, said the spokesman for the governor of Yobe state Abdullahi Bego.
The insurgents went to the female dormitories and told the young women to go home, get married and abandon the Western education which they said is anathema to Islam
Meanwhile U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday condemned the “unspeakable violence and acts of terror” and said the United States was helping Nigerian authorities “to combat the threat posed by Boko Haram, while protecting civilians and ensuring respect for human rights.”
“My heartfelt condolences go to families of the slain school pupils. It is unfortunate that innocent school children, will become victims of armed attacks," he said.
Atiku, in a statement released by his media office in Abuja particularly frowned at the impression given by President Goodluck Jonathan at his Presidential Media Chat on Monday that the government has been successful at pushing armed attacks to the fringes of the country.
“This will not be the first time in recent times that school children are being attacked, and it is particularly disheartening that the Federal Government is yet to devise a strategy of keeping our schools safe from terror attacks. If our counter-insurgency strategies are not strong enough to keep our children safe inside their schools, then one must wonder if such a strategy isn’t mere chasing shadows,” Atiku said.
"It is important that the Federal Government ups its counter-insurgency strategy and desist from taking credits in pushing armed attacks to the fringes, as the president would like to put it. No Nigerian’s life is less in value to another.”
According to him, it is imperative for government to ensure security in schools, in particular the Federal Government Colleges because of their unique role in forging national unity among pupils from diverse backgrounds in the country.
At least 58 students were killed, including many who were burned alive.
The militants set fire to a locked dormitory at the school in Yobe state , then shot and slit the throats of students who tried to escape through windows during the pre-dawn attack on Tuesday.
Female students were spared in the attack, said the spokesman for the governor of Yobe state Abdullahi Bego.
The insurgents went to the female dormitories and told the young women to go home, get married and abandon the Western education which they said is anathema to Islam
Meanwhile U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday condemned the “unspeakable violence and acts of terror” and said the United States was helping Nigerian authorities “to combat the threat posed by Boko Haram, while protecting civilians and ensuring respect for human rights.”
Atiku Weeps, as Gunmen Kill 58 Students in Yobe State
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