The National Association of Seadogs, NAS, also known as Pyrates Confraternity has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on the insecurity of schools over the incessant attacks on schools and abduction of school children.
The President of the Association, Mr. Abiola Owoaje in a statement titled “Maramara Abduction: Another Assault on Education” stated that the inability of the security agencies to effectively halt attacks on schools “is portraying his administration as being weak, ineffectual and currently unable to inspire confidence in its citizens.”
The statement read in part: “Once again, with this Maramara abduction, the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) is saddened by the fact that the authorities were yet again caught napping as abductors successfully kidnapped another group of schoolchildren.
“It is baffling that in all these incidents of abductions and in some instances, rescue and release of victims, no suspect had been apprehended by security operatives. It is increasingly scandalous and incongruous that harmless protesters exercising their fundamental human rights are vigorously suppressed by the security agencies, who disappointingly keep displaying apathy towards clamping down on marauding bandits.
“We keep trying to understand how this is so. With every new kidnapping, it is becoming glaringly difficult to explain other than acquiescent negligence.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has to see that the failure of the security agencies to effectively deal with these attacks on schools is portraying his administration as being weak, ineffectual and currently unable to inspire confidence in its citizens.
“Our President must understand that the persistent Government negligence in ensuring the safety of Nigerians is a failure of governance and dereliction of constitutional responsibility. This significantly erodes the legitimacy of the Government itself with the failure of protecting its people.
“It is of utmost urgency for the President to correct this impression and declare a state of emergency on the insecurity of all schools especially in the northeast, northwest and north-central regions of Nigeria. This would ensure coordinated and collaborative efforts to end the menace of abduction of schoolchildren.
“A state of emergency on the security of schools would bridge the communication gap between states and the Federal Government on directives to heads of security agencies to take swift actions against criminal elements. With the recent abduction of 121 students of Bethel Baptist School, Maramara in Kaduna State, it is baffling that no single suspect has been apprehended by security operatives from all incidents of abductions.”
