The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described as unfortunate, the alleged politicisation of the kidnap of students of Government Science Secondary School, GSSS, Katsina.
The minister made the remark on Friday during a press conference in Abuja.
The students were kidnapped on December 11 and released after spending six days in hostage.
Mohammed said it was unfortunate that instead of coming together with the intention of solving the problem, some people denigrated the government and the country.
His words: “The reactions in certain quarters to the Kankara incident was shameful. Some Nigerians went as far as denigrating their government and country in the most uncouth and irresponsible manner.
“They simply threw decorum to the wind and allowed their emotions to take a better part of them. When disasters and tragedies strike, people come together.
“We hope the naysayers have learnt their lessons. And we hope those who have started trading and politicking with the #BringBackOurBoys can now go home as our boys have been brought back, even before their dubious campaign could take off.”
The minister, while answering a question at the press conference, said the president might have not visited the town where the incident occurred, he was “busy coordinating the entire operation to ensure the safe return of the students within the fastest time possible.”
He said the release of the school boys was a testament to the importance the administration attached to the security and safety of all Nigerians.
He stated further: “There is no government in the world that will not face the challenges of security at one time or another. No government in the world is immune to terrorist attacks.
“What stands any government out is the way and manner it responds to such challenges. For example, school shooting has been a recurring challenge in the United States. Between 2010 and 2020, almost 200 school children were killed and many more injured in various school shooting incidents.
“Needless to say that the world’s most powerful country suffered a tragic terrorist attack in September 2001 that claimed almost 3,000 lives. In France, between 2010 and 2020, 286 people were killed in various terrorist incidents. And in New Zealand, in March 2019, 49 people were killed in shootings at two mosques in Christ Church, New Zealand.
“I have given these instances to support the fact that no nation, no matter how powerful, is immune to security challenges.”
