The United States, US government says the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration must ensure that bandits responsible for the kidnapping of over 300 school children, are swiftly captured and brought to justice.
The Donald Trump-led government issued the warning on Monday via the the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs X handle, saying the abductors must be held accountable for their criminal acts.
The warning, according to analysts, is the latest in the diplomatic spat between the two countries over worsening insecurity situation in Nigeria, which the US government said should be tackled.
Over 300 school students were last week kidnapped by bandits in Kebbi and Niger states by bandits, a situation that has prompted serious fears in the country. The federal and state government have responded by ordering closure of schools until the situation stabilized.
Some of the student were said to have escaped and reunited with their parents at the weekend, even as pressure continues to mount on the government to ensure that schools in the country are safe for students.
The US government however said the perpetrators of the abductions must not go unpunished, that the Tinubu administration must go after them to ensure that they are apprehended and brought to justice.
US State Dept: , “The United States condemns the mass abduction of reportedly over 300 students and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, Nigeria, and the kidnapping, just days before, of 25 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State.
“Those responsible for these crimes must be swiftly captured and held accountable. The Nigerian government must act decisively and do more to protect Christians and ensure Nigerians can live, learn, and practice their religion freely without fear or terror.”
Recall that President Trump had at the weekend expressed his frustration with the federal government’s handling of insecurity in the country, describing the Tinubu administration as a ‘disgrace,” saying the US may be forced to withdraw aids to Nigeria is the situation persisted.
“I think Nigeria is a disgrace. The whole thing is a disgrace. They’re killing people by the thousands. It’s a genocide. And I’m really angry about it.”
“And we pay, you know, we give a lot of subsidy to Nigeria, which we’re going to end up stopping,” the U.S. leader said on Fox News Radio.
Trump had earlier threatened to use military force against Nigeria if the federal government failed to rein in alleged Christians genocide in the country.
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