‘Come clean on rescue of Kaduna schoolchildren’ – WACOL Director, Ezeilo tells FG

The Executive Director, Women Aid Collective, WACOL, Prof Joy Ezeilo, has urged the Federal Government to provide details regarding the release of the abducted Kaduna schoolchildren.

137 kidnapped pupils from Kuriga, Kaduna regained their freedom on Sunday.

Ezeilo, in a post via her X handle on Monday expressed joy following the release of the children and commended the military for rescuing them.

However, she pointed out that there were unclear details regarding the rescue operation, citing the earlier reports indicating that 287 pupils were abducted.

The post reads, “I am grateful to God and commend the military for rescuing 153 Nigerian children and women on Sunday.

“This is a huge relief for their parents, families, and all well-meaning Nigerians, including the international community.

“However, there remain many unclear details regarding this rescue operation. For instance, we have learned that only 137 (76 females and 61 males) of the rescued individuals were Kaduna pupils, despite earlier reports indicating that 287 pupils were abducted.

“This raises several questions that need to be answered.”

She added that the inconsistency in the reports “highlights the recurring problem of poor record-keeping, data management, transparency, and information sharing in Nigeria.”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, further queried the government over secrecy in details regarding the rescue, pointing out that “there may be more to it than meets the eye”.

“How many children were kidnapped from Kaduna School? Was it that all the abducted children were rescued? How did they move them from Kaduna to Zamfara state? What about the kidnappers or abductees? Was there no single arrest or casualty?

“There may be more to this than meets the eye. Was this a case of negotiation and ransom payment? No one knows, as a lot is still shrouded in secrecy.

“How do we ensure accountability and prosecution of suspects? How do we prevent future abduction in what appears to be now a lucrative business that is destroying lives and adding to the country’s overwhelming insecurity? How do we ensure safe schools and safe cities?

“We hope that no child is left behind like the Dapchi and Chibok schoolgirls kidnappings, amongst others”, she added.