Today, Leadership Newspaper published a "Roll Call Of Dead Students"- the names of students killed in Yobe State at the Federal Government College in Buni Yadi.
A reminder that these deceased were indeed, real people; not some mocked up statistics, but real young Nigerians whose lives were tragically cut short.
In addition, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Anselm Odinkalu has
released an official statement on the Yobe Attack.
There is no way to minimize the shock and tragedy
of these events. The perpetrators clearly do not wish Nigeria well. Words are
not enough to condemn them and their conduct. To the parents of the affected
children, words are equally insufficient comfort or condolence. This is every
parent’s worst nightmare. Condolences are also due to the Government and People
of Yobe State and to the Federal Government.
Education a basic right guaranteed in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and
Peoples’ Rights, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These
children were killed in exercise of this right. The pursuit of education cannot
be cause for the mass murder of innocent children.
FGC Buni-Yadi is one of a network of 104
so-called Unity Schools, begun in 1966 by the Federal Government and
accelerated in the 1970s to foster national unity in Nigeria through learning
and enlightenment. It truly hurts that children whom we sent to school as
symbols of our unity as a country have become sacrificial offerings in some people’s
project towards dis-unity. This must not be allowed.
Confronting this requires collective leadership
at all levels. At a time like this, it is necessary for political leaders
across parties to sink differences, reassure the country, and discover in adversity
such as this the will to forge common purpose.
Sybolisms do matter. In memory of these children
and all others lost in the ongoing situation in the north-east and as the
institution of government closest to the people, our National Assembly should re-convene
urgently in plenary. The plans for the Centenary celebration must reflect the
tragic backdrop of the country at this time. A suitable period of national
mourning will not be out of place. In the interim, proposals for the transfer
of children in the eight Unity Schools in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States to
other schools outside the region should be taken seriously.
Many official reports, including the Marshall
Dike report (2009); Galtimari Report (2011); and Turaki Committee Report (2013)
already contain far-reaching proposals for addressing the situation in N.E.
Nigeria. The Federal Government and the governments and people of the states in
the Lake Chad area in N.E. Nigeria deserve the support and ideas of all
citizens, well-wishers and friends of Nigeria as they work to bring an end to
these atrocities."
What does the future hold for the nation, if we are unsure of the security of the young lives in our midst?
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