TheCable

The federal government says it will soon fish out and prosecute kidnappers of school children.

Mohammed Idris, minister of information, said this in Kano on Wednesday, during an interactive session with media executives and practitioners organised by the ministry of information and national orientation.

There has been an uptick in school kidnappings in Nigeria since 2014, when insurgents invaded and corralled students of the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno state.

Idris said President Tinubu has directed all security agencies to expedite action toward ensuring that school children recently abducted in Kaduna were rescued unhurt and reunited with their families.

The minister advised journalists to desist from amplifying the activities of kidnappers and bandits on the pages of newspapers.

“Mr. President is disturbed that journalists celebrate the activities of kidnappers and bandits on the pages of national dailies,” he said.

“He believes that such publicity encourages the unpatriotic elements.”

He added that the federal government is putting modalities in place to overhaul the agricultural sector and ensure food security.

“Mr. President is insisting that Nigeria must be self sufficient in food production,” Idris added.

“Proactive measures have been adopted by the federal government to ensure adequate provision of assorted fertiliser to farmers at subsidised rates.”

On March 7, 2024, Sani Abdullahi, a teacher at the Government Secondary School Kuriga, Chikun LGA of Kaduna, confirmed that 287 students went missing after bandits attacked the community.

On March 17, over 80 people were kidnapped by gunmen in Kajuru community, Kajuru LGA of Kaduna state.