ANGO Condemns Mindless Endangering of Lives of Students in Gombe
Association of NGOs (ANGO) which is the umbrella body of all Civil Society Actors in Gombe State has condemned the reckless endangering of lives of innocent pupils and students in the state.
This is contained in a press statement signed by Chairman Amb. Yusuf Ibrahim and made available to newsmen on Tuesday.
The group frowned at the activities of political actors and supporters of mostly the ruling party, APC in the Gombe State, which it said have made some school environments unsafe, dangerous, and life-threatening.
It expressed concern over the unguided activities of political thugs whom it said are often stationed in front of the Central Primary School at the heart of the metropolis by supporters of APC.
“We are concerned like every other right-thinking person over the Conspicuous siting of a Political Thugs Hub right at the front of the Central Primary School at the Heart of the Metropolis by infamous supporters of APC ‘Mai Katifa’.”
The statement described as gross carelessness, callous, and insensitive the continued endangering of lives of over 2,500 primary school pupils, 2,000 and 1,500 Junior and Senior secondary school students respectively.
It expressed worry on the safety of the pupils and students who become vulnerable to the political clashes, especially with the build-up to the 2023 general elections.
In the same vein, the statement condemned in strong terms the continuous assembling of Students by the roadside and were forced to abandon their studies in the name of VIP welcoming of the Governor’s convoy which has recently (Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022) resulted in the killing of the innocent late Rahab Hassan, a 17-year-old student of Government Girls Science Secondary School, Kumo by the reckless convoy, saying that such regrettable incident is unacceptable, and must be stopped.
The group used the medium to call on all stakeholders including the Commissioner of Police, the Director State Security Service, the Commandant Nigeria Security, and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Education, the State Chairman APC, and His Excellency – the Executive Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to ensure the immediate removal of the ‘ Mai Katifa Political Stand’ from the premises of the Central School within 48 Hours, to allow for safe learning for Pupils and Students.
The group further called on the state Governor to tender Public Apology and ensure compensation to the family of late Rahab Hassan with immediate effect.
“The lives of all Students in the State should be Government’s priority as it is their right to have safe schools for their learning.
This recklessness MUST STOP NOW, especially with the build-up to the 2023 General Elections that will further heat the polity, hence the need for all measures to be in place for the safety of lives and property of all citizens,” the group concluded.
