Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has described last Friday’s abduction of hundreds of students at Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State as “heartbreaking”.
She reacted in a tweet on Tuesday night, five days after the incident.
“The abduction of more than 300 school boys in Katsina is heartbreaking. What a recurring nightmare.
“My heart goes out to the families of the missing boys.
“The authorities must do all possible to #BringBackOurBoys!
“Those using our children as pawns must be held accountable!” Okonjo-Iweala, who is in pole position to emerge Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) wrote.
Her reaction came as Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the abductions, after Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari said over the weekend that 333 students were abducted.
He also told President Muhammadu Buhari in a Monday briefing that the abductors have initiated contact, noting that steady progress was being made to bring them out unharmed.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara state government announced on Tuesday that it was immediately closing 10 secondary schools believed to be vulnerable to bandits’ attacks.
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The state Commissioner for Education, Mr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, made the disclosure when he addressed journalists at his office on measures being taken by the state government to secure lives of school children in the state.
“We have received the approval of Gov. Bello Matawalle to close all the schools located along our borders with our neighbouring states of Katsina and Kaduna, following the recent abduction of over 300 secondary school students at the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina state.
“As you know, Kankara shares borders with Zamfara state and that attack is also a threat to our students which was why we suggested to the governor of the pressing need to close down these schools for the safety of our students,” he explained.