NGF, APGA condemn Yobe’s students killings

on July 09, 2013   /   in News 12:05 am   /   

By HENRY UMORU

…As Amnesty tasks FG on security for students
ABUJA—GOVERNOR Jonah Jang of Plateau State led faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, has described the killing of 28 students and a teacher at Government Secondary School, Mamudo, Potiskum in Yobe State, by gunmen believed to be Boko Haram as barbaric.

In a statement by its Director General,  Earl Osaro Onaiwu, the group condemned the act, just as the Joint Task Force and all the security agencies security agencies were urged to fish out the perpetrators of the evil act

The statement described it as “despicable to even attribute such wicked act to any religion,” noting that no religion will condone the killing of innocent children, as the action smacks of desperation. He sympathized with the governor of Yobe State and families of the slain children and prayed that God comfort them in this their time of mourning.

Similarly, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has urged the Federal Government to beef up security in states afflicted by terrorism and insurgency.

The party in a statement by Mr Francis Ede, the Media Assistant to APGA’s National Chairman, Chief Maxi Okwu, said that provision of more security in such a volatile state would reduce violence. It said: “APGA strongly condemns this diabolic attack and murder of innocent children in their boarding school. It is sadism of the worst order. We urge security agents to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime and bring them to book.

“APGA commiserates with the families of those who lost their loved ones to this dastardly, cowardly and abominable act, and pray that God Almighty will give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. We also pray for quick recovery of those wounded in the attack.”

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has said that the Nigerian government must act to prevent attacks on schools to protect children’s lives and their right to education. Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Africa Lucy Freeman, said: “The protection of children’s lives is paramount, and the Nigerian government has a duty to ensure that the country’s educational sector is not further threatened by the killing and intimidation of students and teachers and the destruction of school buildings.

“Such attacks violate the right to life and undermine the right to education for thousands of children in northern Nigeria. They must stop immediately. The Nigerian authorities must investigate these attacks and bring those responsible to justice in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty. When education institutions are targeted or attacked, the damage and resultant consequences can be major and far-reaching. Access to basic education in a country where education is mostly seen as a privilege, requires that proper structures and services are in place and that students can access adequate books and materials,” said Lucy Freeman.

SOURCE: 9 July 2013