The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has described the rescue of 100 school children abducted from the St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary school in Niger State as yet another demonstration of President Bola Tinubu’s result-oriented disposition to security challenge.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group expressed its conviction that the remaining students would be rescued in due course, in line with the President’s assurance.
The statement read in part: “It is a fact that since the three recent abductions in Kwara, Kebbi and Niger States, Nigeria has been in the glare of the international community with many people wondering how the President Bola Tinubu administration would handle the situation.
“This was against the backdrop of allegations of persecution of Christians by US President Donald Trump as well as the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
“But we dare say that with the latest situation, the administration has continued to prove its preparedness to weather the storm and protect all Nigerians, regardless of their religious or ethnic persuasions.
“As the President said in his reaction to the return of 100 pupils, it is only after the remaining 115 students and some of their teachers are back that a line would be drawn on the November 21 incident.
“When 38 worshippers abducted from a local church in Eruku, Kwara state, and 24 students abducted from a secondary school in Maga, Kebbi State, were rescued almost in quick succession, we were certain that it wouldn’t be long before the school children from the Catholic schools were rescued, and we were proved right.
“This was because of the swift response of President Tinubu in mobilising all security apparati at his disposal, including issuing marching orders to security chiefs, which ensured the success of efforts to rescue the abductees, some of whom are as young as six years old.”
The group also compared the President’s reaction to the mass abduction in Niger to a similar situation in 2014 that shocked the world.
“President Tinubu’s response is clearly in stark contrast to the lackadaisical response by a sitting government to a similar abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno state by Boko Haram Terrorists.
“We recall that because of the delayed response, it was easy for the insurgents to ferry the girls into the dense Sambisa Forest and it took another two years for a joint military patrol to find one of the abducted girls with a child and one of the suspected terrorists after she wandered out of the forest.
“And we need to also add that the first batch of Chibok girls, numbering 21, were released in October 2016 after negotiations facilitated by local and international partners.
The second batch of 82 Chibok girls was released in May 2017 after another round of negotiations by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“For the avoidance of doubt, no fewer than 90 Chibok school girls are still missing after 10 years.
“So this is enough reason for President Tinubu and his administration to be commended for ensuring the safe release of the abductees within a few weeks of the three incidents.
“We are sure that beyond the measures taken to ensure the success of the rescue missions, the federal government would not relent on its efforts to make Nigerians safer, especially with the President’s recent declaration of emergency on the security situation,” it added.
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