My Child Will Remain In Public School Despite Kidnapping Threat – El-Rufai

Kaduna State Governor Nasiru el-Rufa'i says his child will remain in public school amid kidnappers and Boko Haram groups allegedly invading the state.

El-Rufa’i claimed this while responding to the abduction of six students and two teachers at the Engrave's College in Kakau Daji region of Kaduna State on Wednesday.

The governor, who spoke to correspondents from the State House in Abuja on Friday, said that his child should not be better or more protected than any other child in the state.

"My child in Kaduna State should not be more stable or safe than any other child. I have taken an oath of office to protect everyone, and my child is just one of the two million children we have in Kaduna state primary schools, and I do not wish to revisit that.

"For me, sending my child to a government school was not just an undertaking I made, but a simple indication I had enough faith in the performance of our public schools for my child to attend.

"We have already released guidelines that all our Ministry of Education workers responsible for managing our education system should have their own children in government schools," he said.

On the persons abducted, the governor said the victim's state government, parents and guardians as well as security agencies were doing their utmost to ensure their release.

El-Rufa'I denied the insinuation that after the alleged abduction of students and teachers at the Engrave's College in Kakau Daji, parents are withdrawing their wards from schools.

The governor announced the kidnappers had made contact with the students ' family, demanding ransom. The government of the state has gathered the affected parents and the teachers ' relationships in one place, he says.

He said this was to ensure one line of communication with the kidnappers to facilitate the victims ' speedy release, adding that the government of the state had no intention of paying the kidnappers ransom.

"Three months ago, we got a smart report about the possibility of this risk. As I said, we're putting in place steps I don't want to go into depth.

"But any bandit who comes to Kaduna to try to do this has a very high chance of being killed, that's all I can say; very good chance of being killed," he said.


(NAN)