School Abductions: We’re Ready To Assist If Nigeria Is Ready, U.S. Says

The U.S. government has expressed its willingness to help Nigeria curb the spate of mass abduction of schoolchildren that has pervaded the northern part of the country in recent times.

A statement via the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs digital press briefing monitored by Peoples Gazette Thursday afternoon revealed the decision of the American authorities.

Speaking on the U.S. efforts to combat terrorism in Africa, the Bureau via it twitter handle, US Africa Media, pledged to help Nigeria combat the menace of school kidnapping if Abuja shows readiness.

“We are disgusted with the mass kidnapping of school children in Nigeria,” Micheal Gonzales, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, told participants at the briefing. “The U.S. is ready to provide the appropriate support to the Nigerian government if requested to do so.”

The media briefing which was convened by John T. Godfrey was organised to address recent development in U.S. counter terrorism efforts in Africa, including in the Great Lake regions and Mozambique.

Nigeria is faced with the activities of Boko Haram insurgency, banditry and kidnapping that have led to the deaths of tens of thousands of its citizens over the years.

The onslaught of kidnapping activities by marauding gunmen is becoming worrisome as the brigands continued to carry out deadly attacks going unchallenged by security operatives.

Between December 2020 and ending February, bandits have abducted over 800 school children in government schools in Katsina, Niger and Zamfara state respectively.

The abductions of the school children that occurred in separate attacks, drew nationwide uproar.

The Gazette had exclusively reported how the federal government paid $2.099 million (N800 million) as ransom to free high school children and staffers who were abducted by bandits in February.