Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, on Friday described the kidnapping of school children by terrorists in northern Nigeria as a lucrative business.
He lamented the setbacks it has created for the educational sector in the region.
Sani said kidnappers use it to blackmail the government into paying a huge ransom, adding that kidnappers know it will evoke public sympathy for the pupils as pressure will be mounted on the government to bow to their demands.
Terrorists stormed LGEA Primary School, Kuriga (1), Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, and kidnapped about 285 pupils and teachers.
Chronicle NG reported that the incident happened at about 8:20 am, immediately after the morning assembly.
Sani said many parents in rural areas will now be afraid to allow their children to go to school, pointing out that the development is a serious problem for basic education in northern Nigeria.
He said, “The kidnapping of school children by terrorists in Northern Nigeria is a lucrative business. They use it to blackmail the government for huge ransom payments.
“They know that it will evoke public sympathy for the pupils, and pressure will be mounted on the government to bow to their demands. Many parents in rural areas are now afraid of allowing their children to go to school. This is a serious problem for basic education in northern Nigeria.
“Though this tragic incident happened, there has been a significant drop in the occurrence of such attacks on schools compared to their frequency under the last administration.”
