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The residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, still smartening from the devastating attacks in Nyanya and the abduction of over 200 female students of Government Girls Secondary School (GSSY), Chibok, Borno State; were yesterday further traumatised When the news of the snatching of a private school bus in the same Nyanya hit the city. Many feared it could be a precursor to the kidnap of school children within the city.
The group of armed robbers was said to have snatched the bus belonging to Divine Kiddies Academy Phase 4, Nyanya, a satellite town in the FCT, which has witnessed two deadly bombings in the space of two weeks with combined death of almost 100.
The incident created an atmosphere of fear within Nyanya and its environs as rumours made the rounds especially via the social media about an alleged abduction of school children in Nyanya. According to a security personnel who spoke to THISDAY, the robbers forcefully pushed the driver out and made away with the empty bus.
“There was also no child inside the bus at the time of the incident neither was any child taken away as it’s being speculated,” he said.
However, the robbers were quickly trailed by security agencies, who apprehended them and recovered the stolen bus.
This was confirmed in a statement by the FCT Secretary of Education, Mallam Kabir Usman, who disclosed that the snatched bus was recovered same day at Lafia, the Nasarawa State, hours after it had been snatched.
Usman also confirmed that the two men found in the bus were promptly arrested by security agencies.
He further clarified that “no school child was abducted either at Nyanya, or any other part of the FCT yesterday contrary to reports in a section of the social media. “What happened was that at about 7a.m. today (yesterday), some armed men snatched one of the school buses of Divine International Academy, Nyanya.
“However, all the children had disembarked and were safely in the school premises when the incident occurred.”
According to him, immediately the robbery occurred, the relevant security agencies were promptly contacted and the school premises were secured. He also noted that security already in place in other school premises were similarly enhanced as security agencies launched investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, Usman urged FCT residents to remain calm and vigilant as they go about their lawful activities.
“The administration will continue to treat the security of lives and property in FCT as matters of utmost importance,” he assured. In the same vein, the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) advised the FCT residents to avoid spreading rumour, especially on matters of security they are not sure about but should instead report any findings to relevant security and emergency agencies.
The Director-General,FEMA, Alh. Abbas Idriss, said there is a need for people to stop peddling rumors, and advised that citizens should go about their normal activities
“Report reaching FEMA shows that no child was taken from Ave Maria Private School as is being speculated by some residents.” Idriss said in a statement..
According to him, “It is a dangerous trend for people to talk about what they did not see. You create unnecessary fear in the minds of people and it is an unhealthy situation.”
The FEMA DG advised all residents to be security and safety conscious, vigilant and ensure to know where their children and wards are at every point in time.
He further clarified that despite the work free day for government staff as a result of the ongoing World Economic Forum Africa (WEFA), FEMA is on ground to serve the residents of Abuja.
“Feel free to pass genuine information across as no information is wasted. FEMA looks forward to the cooperation of everyone,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ade Abolurin, has appealed to members of the public “to remain calm but vigilant as no child was kidnapped as rumoured in some quarters.” Clearing the air on the matter, he corrected that it was a Toyota Hiace Bus parked outside the premises of Divine Kiddies International Academy, phase IV, Nyanya that was snatched by some hoodlums at gun point but no school child was abducted or kidnapped in the process.
According to him, the private guards operators if provided in the numbers commensurate with the premises to be secured could assist security agencies in the provision of timely information in case of any security threat.
He called on school owners to place special emphasis on security by protecting the interest of parents and children.
On her part, the Director of the school, Mrs Temitayo, Fola-Kolade, expressed gratitude to God that none of the school children was kidnapped.
“What I am happy about is that no child was taken away, no child was kidnapped as speculated, we have counted all the kids that come to school today and they have gone back home.
“No parent has called me to say that they did not see their child, it is only the school bus that was taken away,’’ she said.
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