Nigeria: authorities criticized in the aftermath of the kidnapping of 70 students
Nigerian security forces on the campus of Jangebe Secondary School in Zamfara State.
(illustration) AP - Ibrahim Mansur
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Efforts continue to try to free more than 70 high school students kidnapped on Wednesday in Zamfara state, northwest Nigeria.
The kidnapping of 73 students from Kaya high school by armed men was the umpteenth targeting schools in a few months.
Security has since been stepped up in the village of Kaya and its surroundings to prevent further attacks.
Efforts which, for some, come very late.
Advertising
Read more
Since
the kidnapping
, authorities in Zamfara State have imposed restrictions on road travel at night and have temporarily closed primary and secondary schools. But this is not enough to calm public opinion, which is very critical
of the government's inaction
. Especially since the high school where the students were kidnapped was only a few kilometers from the headquarters of the local authorities in Maradun.
According to the account of a witness interviewed by RFI, there was no security presence: “
The bandits arrived around 11:25 am.
As I speak to you, three of my children are among the victims.
There were no security personnel present.
Now that I have arrived at our traditional chief's residence, I have met two police officers on motorcycles and the Divisional Police Commissioner.
They arrived with two other vehicles, accompanied by soldiers.
After identifying the number of kidnapped students, they all left
, ”he explains.
Armed men in complete freedom, according to a video
So, according to this witness, the police were not present before the kidnapping, and after the fact, they are still not there.
For their part, the police say they are making efforts to guarantee the release of the students.
In response to criticism, police spokesman Mohammed Shehu, “
do not want to comment on (the) operational strategy against the bandits
”.
“
All I know is that the police, in competition with the army, are stepping up their rigorous efforts to ensure not only the release of the students, but also the total protection of the lives and property of all the inhabitants of the city. 'Zamfara state
,' he explains.
In a video shared by the deputy head of the governor of the state of Zamfara, however, we see armed men in complete freedom, expressing their strength, and completely taunting the authorities.
This summer, Zamfara State Governor Bello Mattawale called on its residents to
defend themselves against the bandits
, without waiting for the police.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Nigeria
Terrorism
Criminality