By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna Borno State Governor, , on Tuesday dispatched a high-powered delegation to Lassa town in followin...
By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
Borno State Governor, , on Tuesday dispatched a high-powered delegation to Lassa town in following Monday's insurgent attack on .
The delegation, led by the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, included the Commissioner for Intergovernmental Affairs, Hon. Samaila Satumari; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Dr. Juliana Bitrus; the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Projects, Engr. Emmanuel Yerima; a representative of the (NUT), Comrade Suleiman Bello Maina; and other senior government officials.
On arrival in Lassa, the delegation met with parents of the affected students, many of whom expressed concern over the safety and whereabouts of their children.
Addressing the parents, Wakilbe conveyed Governor Zulum's sympathy and assured them that the state government was working closely with security agencies, community leaders and other relevant stakeholders to secure the safe return of the missing students and staff.
«"On behalf of His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, I extend our sympathy over this unfortunate incident. Let me assure you that efforts are ongoing by security agencies, government authorities, community leaders and other stakeholders to trace and safely reunite the missing students and staff with their families," he said.»
The delegation later visited , where the Commissioner convened an emergency stakeholders' meeting attended by the Zonal Deputy Director (Uba Zone), the Education Secretary, school principals across Askira/Uba Local Government Area, the Local Government Chairman, security representatives and other stakeholders.
According to a statement made available to journalists, the meeting resolved to temporarily close schools in Dille, Lassa and Chul communities as a precautionary security measure. It added that students currently sitting for examinations would be relocated to to enable them to continue their academic activities without disruption.
The statement further said the Chairman of Askira/Uba Local Government Area, Hon. Mada Saidu, presented the delegation with a compiled list of victims of the attack.
According to the report, 39 persons from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, were affected, comprising three members of staff and 36 students. Of the missing students, 25 are female and 11 are male, drawn from Senior Secondary School One (SS1), Senior Secondary School Two (SS2) and Senior Secondary School Three (SS3).
The delegation also paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Uba, Alhaji Aliyu Ibn Samaila Mamza, where members commiserated with the traditional ruler over the incident and briefed him on measures being implemented by the Borno State Government in response to the attack.
The delegation commended the resilience and cooperation of the affected communities and reaffirmed Governor Zulum's commitment to strengthening security around educational institutions, supporting affected families and ensuring the safe return of all missing students.
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