The Kaduna State government has suspended the resumption of schools across local governments of the state until further notice.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai while addressing the stakeholders’ meeting explained that the government took the decision due to the ongoing aggressive military operation against bandits in most parts of the state.
The meeting had in attendance the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), as well as professional and community-based associations that the operation was aimed at flushing the bandits out from their hideouts.
Governor El-Rufai emphasized that the government was committed to protecting vulnerable children from being attacked by fleeing bandits who were already feeling the superior firepower of the military.
He also disclosed that the military has deployed more troops to the state for the operation and warned the residents to be vigilant and mindful of unknown faces in their midst, saying fleeing bandits might infiltrate their communities
In his remarks, NMA Chairman in Kaduna, Dr. Aliyu Sokomba, asked the Federal Government of Nigeria to license the use of firearms for profiled citizens.
He stated that this was necessary to enable the people to protect themselves from being attacked by bandits since the security forces cannot be everywhere.
Sokomba believes licensing of firearms for citizens has become expedient due to the constant kidnapping of many people, including health workers.
A gender-based activist, Asma Mirza, who was also present at the meeting, stressed the need to deploy technology to the various flashpoints, including the forests and highways.
Kidnapping and banditry have become fast-growing organized crimes in Kaduna and some parts of the northwest region thereby posing a major security threat for the people.
Amid tension in which farmers have been forced to abandon their farms, some secondary schools and a tertiary institution were attacked by bandits recently in Kaduna.
