Killing Of Female Student By Reckless Convoy: NGOs Demand Gov. Inuwa’s Public Apology

…Decry political activities that endanger school children

BY WILLIAM ATTAH, GOMBE – A Coalition of Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) on the aegis of ANGO in Gombe State, on Wednesday demanded a public apology from Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya over the reckless killing of 17 year old Rahab Hassan.

ANGO particularly condemned in very strong terms, the assembling of students by the roadside to welcome the Governor anytime he is passing thus, endangering their lives and preventing them from their studies stressing that such executive practice is “unacceptable and must be stopped”.

Governor Yahaya’s vehicular convoy was last week involved in what was described as “reckless driving” in Kumo town which led to the killing of the Late 17year old Rahab Hassan.

ANGO also insisted that apart from the apology, the State Government should ensure the payment of adequate compensation to the immediate family of the late female student.

The Coalition of the NGOs in a press statement by its chairman, Ibrahim Yusuf, in Gombe noted that Governor Yahaya’s convoy last week Thursday, March 3, 2022 recklessly killed Rahab Hassan, a student of Government Girls Science Secondary School, Kumo, when she along with other students were made to abandon their studies and line up by the road in the name of welcoming a VIP.

ANGO expressed concern as it condemned in strong terms, political activities, particularly that of political thugs which pose danger to school children in the State, even as political activities garner momentum.

According to ANGO; “We are concerned like every other right thinking person over the conscious citing of a political thugs hub right in front of the Central Primary School, at the heart of the metropolis by supporters of one APC ‘Mai Katifa’.

“This is a gross careless, callous and insensitive act that has continued to put the lives of over 2,500 primary school pupils, 2,000 and 1,500 junior and senior secondary school students respectively, in danger. These children go into the school in pursuit of their education every school day.

“Political clash will render the whole students vulnerable as seen in all such clashes over the years, more so, that the build up to 2023 general elections will intensify such dangers every passing day,” it warned.

The Coalition therefore appealed to all stakeholders, particularly, the Gombe State Commissioner of Police, Director of State Security Service, Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps, Gombe State Commissioner of Education, State Chairman of the APC and Governor Inuwa Yahaya to ensure the immediate removal of the “Mai Katifa” political stand (hub) from the premises of the Central School, Gombe within 48 hours for the safety of school children.

ANGO further stated; “These recklessness must stop now especially with the build up to the 2023 general elections that will further heat up the polity, hence the need for all measures to be in place for the safety of lives and property of citizens”.