Northern Governors Decry Yobe, Kaduna Killings, Tasks Security Agencies On Ending Boko Haram’s Reign Of Terror

CORPSES OF THE MURDERED STUDENTS. PHOTO CREDIT: CHANNELSTV
CORPSES OF THE MURDERED STUDENTS. PHOTO CREDIT: CHANNELSTV

Security agencies have been tasked to do all within their powers to halt the killing of defenseless citizens and attacks on places of worship and educational facilities especially in the North East, by members of the dreaded Islamist, Boko Haram.

This was the position of governors of the 19 northern states, Sunday, in reaction to the massacre of about 40 students of the College of Agriculture, Gujba, Yobe State, by gunmen in the early hours of Sunday as well as the killing of 15 persons in Zangang community in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Although no group has yet to claim responsibility for the attack in Yobe State, it is believed to have been carried out by Boko Haram whose attacks in the state in recent times follow a similar pattern – attacking educational institutions while the students are sleeping and open fire on them.

The Northern States Governors Forum, through its chairman, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, expressed serious concerns at renewed attacks on innocent people.

A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo stated that “The forum is particularly alarmed that the shooting to dead of 38 students of the College of Education; Gujba, Yobe State followed the same pattern as the killing of 22 students and a teacher at Government Secondary School, Mamudo in the same state last July.”

The northern governors’ forum described the latest attacks as “horrendous, callous and devoid of any shred of humanity” and called on security agencies to do more to protect the lives and property of citizens as well as ensure that those behind the violence in the region are brought to justice.

The forum restated its pledge to continue to partner other tiers of government to bring an end to security challenges confronting the nation.