Why are Nigerian students targeted for being kidnapped? – BBC Thailand
Since December, more than 600 students have been kidnapped from schools in northwest Nigeria. It underscores the growing worrisome crisis of kidnapping in Nigeria.
The kidnapping of nearly 300 students on Friday from the government’s girls science high school in Jangkebe, Samfara, ended with its release. It is the second time the school has been kidnapped in less than 10 days, while 27 other male students and teachers were taken from a school in Kagara, Niger on Feb. 17. Was released last Saturday.
Officials said The recent attacks on schools in the northwest of the country have been done by “villains,” a term that covers kidnappers, armed robbers, cattle thieves, Fulani homeless herders. And other armed guerrillas operating in the region Which has money as an incentive for the cause
Many believe that the security infrastructure is weak. The governor does not have a security measure in his own state. With the military and police being controlled by the federal government And agreeing to pay the ransom They made the kidnapping of a large number of people earn a lot of money.
The governors have denied the allegations by Samfara Governor Bello Matavalle. In the past, he promised to give houses, money, and cars to “repentant” criminals, who said people who were “uncomfortable with the peace project” are not. [ของเขา]“Is undermining his efforts to end the crisis.
Until now, the typical kidnapping victims were those traveling on the roads of northwest Nigeria. It pays a ransom of approximately US $ 20 to 200,000 (approximately 600 to 6,000,000 baht) in exchange for freedom. But since the Islamist militant Bogo Haram kidnapped 276 female students from a high school in Shibok in 2014, militants in Borno state have turned to mass kidnappings. up
The kidnappers were rewarded with cars and money.
The kidnapping of hundreds of students instead of kidnapping people who traveled on the road. It will be of greater interest to the people and the government will have to join the negotiations. Which means There could be millions of dollars in ransom payments.
Chemistry Okenyodo, a security expert, believes that by doing so, kidnappings can bring money to criminal gangs.
“The decision to pay the ransom should be reviewed. What are the best steps to take to prevent kidnapping? So that we can avoid paying the ransom, ”she asked.
President Muhammadu Buhari also hinted: The governors of the states made the crisis worse.
“The state government must review its policy of awarding money and vehicles to criminals. A policy like this could have a lot of negative consequences, ”he said.
State Governments must review their policy of rewarding bandits with money and vehicles. Such a policy has the potential to backfire with disastrous consequences. States and Local Governments must also play their part by being proactive in improving security in & around schools.
– Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) February 26, 2021
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The mastermind kidnapped more than 300 students in Katsina state last December was recently pardoned in neighboring Samfara state. After he “regretted” and handed over his weapons to the government.
Governor Matavalle has pledged to hand over the city housing to Uvalouda Dava and his gang. Along with help to improve their lives
In July last year, Matavalle pledged to the culprit that they would give two cows if they agreed to hand over each AK-47 to the authorities.
Unlike the previous president, who was severely criticized for dealing with the abduction of a Shibok-town girl, Buhari, he did not face mass condemnation over the kidnapping crisis. It was largely because of his involvement in negotiations for the release of some Shibok school girls during their new inauguration.
His supporters stated that His government has been silent in trying to free the kidnapped students. Still, dozens of students, including Christian Leah Sharibu, have yet to be released. After they were attacked by Boko Haram at a school in Dapchi and kidnapped them in 2018.
Security in Nigeria deteriorated during Buhari’s time. It was reported that there were four more than four kidnappings under his supervision, three of which took place in the Northwest region. It underscores the worsening instability in that region of the country. While the international community is more interested in the cause of the Boko Haram group in the northeastern region, hundreds of kilometers away.
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Even though the military is currently operating in a crackdown on villains in the region, communities have been robbed and much of the region’s reserves are being controlled by criminals.
What has been done to keep schools safe?
A “Safe School Project” was initiated after female Shibok students were kidnapped to increase safety in schools in northeastern Nigeria. By building a fence around the school
At least $ 20 million, or about 600 million baht, has been budgeted for the three-year project sponsored by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Which is the United Nations special envoy for education around the world.
As part of this project, several container schools were built for temporary teaching and learning purposes. But it is unknown whether a fence has been built in the affected communities.
Most recent kidnappings took place in the northwest of the country, though. Which does not have a safe school project But the kidnapping of 110 female students in 2018 from Dapchi, northeastern Yobe state. It raises questions about the success of the said project.
The Nigerian military set up several checkpoints near the school. But in the north there are many schools Making many places not protected
Some schools have employed local armed people. But it is often ineffective in defense of heavily armed gangsters.
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How did the Nigerians react?
At this time, there was not much reaction to the subsequent kidnapping that occurred in later times. This is different from kidnapping a girl in Shibok. That has received attention from all over the world
There is no hashtag, like the one used in the post-Shibok girl kidnapping scene, #BringBackOurGirls. Which demanded help from around the world at that time And help put pressure on President Jonathan to resolve the issue. There have also been no protests taking place in Nigeria.
Bukki Shoni Baré, co-founder of the Bring Back Our Girls Group, which has participated in several protests in Abuja. After the Shibok kidnapping incident, Nigerians were exhausted by the frequent mass kidnappings.
“There are limitations that the heart can bear. Nigerians face many stories after the kidnapping of a girl in Shibok … People are very tired, ”she told the BBC.
She said that although there were no street protests following the kidnapping incident in the past, she said. Her group was also working behind the scenes in increasing the pressure.
Nigerian on social media Mocked how to deal with the kidnapping crisis of the president With the use of hashtags #ThingsMustChange used by Buhari during the 2015 election campaign.
Many Twitter users have adopted a message he tweeted in 2015 stating, “How did 219 girls disappear from our country? And our leaders seem to be incapable of taking action. #ThingsMustChange “
How can 219 girls be missing in our country, and our leader appears incapable of action? #ThingsMustChange
– Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) January 6, 2015
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How is education in the region affected?
Official officials in the state of Kano and Yobe More than 20 schools were closed over the past weekend. Due to insecurity
Recently Some schools in Samfara and Niger were also closed.
In the states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, dozens of schools have been closed for years. Because of the cause of the Boko Haram group
For regions with high child dropout rates This has affected many efforts to promote education over the years. And it is even worse from the COVID-19 outbreak control measures last year.
UNICEF data indicates that the attendance rate in northern Nigeria’s primary school is just 53%, although it is free of tuition and is compulsory education. Personally, this number is even lower in female students. Because of various socio-cultural and practice norms that do not encourage women to enter formal education.
Shoni Baré said, “The aftermath of the story [ลักพาตัว] These are the parents or guardians in the fear of allowing the child in custody to go to school. ”
“This story makes the results that we have made. [โดยเฉพาะ] In the girls’ study they went backwards, ”she said.
Multiple school attacks in northwestern Nigeria are a double sign of the destruction of the regional education system.
Money-motivated culprit There might be a different idea from other groups like Boko Haram in the northeast. Which is opposed to education that is separate from religion But either way, it is devastating to education across the northern region of Nigeria.
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