From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, yesterday, sent the 137 kidnapped and rescued Kuriga school children home amidst tight security, just as he announced a donation of N10 million to the family of their teacher, Malam Abubakar, who died in captivity due to health complications.
The students were abducted on March 7 from the premises of LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School Kuriga town in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, but were rescued by troops of the Nigerian Army, on March 24, after 17 days in captivity.
The governor also said his government would be providing scholarships, up to university level, to the children of the teacher.
“The Kaduna State Government has taken a collective decision to support the family of Malam Abubakar, the teacher who died in captivity, with N10 million. Also, because he has a very young family, the Kaduna State Government will be giving scholarships to his children until they finish secondary school and university,” the governor said.
One of his children, Isah Abubakar, who is also one of the kidnapped and rescued pupils, witnessed his father’s death in the bandits’ den.
Governor Sani, who returned from Abuja, yesterday, to bid the children farewell after three days of psychosocial therapy at the Kaduna Women and Children Shelter, also disclosed that, he will, in his private capacity, under the auspices of Uba Sani Foundation, be supporting the education of all the 137 pupils and students, up to university level.
Governor said: “We saw the need to keep the children for this long because when they came on Sunday, it was observed that some of them needed some psychological support. So, we had to engage the service of psychologists and medical doctors to attend to them.
“Now, they have been given adequate psychosocial counselling and therapy. I am happy, today, that all the children are happy and they are in high spirits.
“Now, you are going back home to meet with your parents and other family members who are eager to see you. But, I want to assure you that all of you remain my children.
“As a result of this, I will be using the Uba Sani Foundation, which has been in existence for the past 16 years, to look after the education of all the 137 of you. Our government will also be carrying out a lot of rehabilitation works, both in the Kuriga community and the school. I have already given a directive to that effect. This is because the Kuriga community is one of the most peaceful communities in Kaduna State.”
He assured the school children that he would be checking on them at Kuriga, from time to time, to monitor the progress of their education. Some of the children who spoke expressed appreciation to the governor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the security agencies who played roles in their freedom from the bandits’ den.