Emotions were very high in Kaduna on Wednesday, as Governor Uba Sani finally reunited Kuriga students with their families at a well-attended event on Katuru Road in the State Capital
Both freed students and their parents expressed gratitude to the governor for giving their quest for freedom relentless attention and effort.
The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Abdulkadir Meyere, conveyed the administration’s vow of ensuring the freed pupils study up to university.
Meyere, in his remark at the handing over event, urged the parents to remain steadfast in being prayerful for the safety and security of Kaduna State.
Also speaking, the representative of the Kuriga community, Idris Abdullahi ( Madakin Kuriga) expressed gratitude to the Governor of the State for “giving his all, to freeing our children and consistently consoling us in moments of tensions, until formal handing over of our chidren”.
He also hailed the government for paying sufficient attention to the royal fathers of the community through continued strategic meetings and a series of badly-needed support, including palliatives. He then prayed that “this should be the last of such a very tragic incident,” to which there was resounding “Amen” from the attendees.
The Sarkin Kuriga, in his address, also extended gratitude to Governor Uba Sani, “for not resting until our children breathed the air of freedom; I commend his steadfastness and the cooperation of President Bola Tinubu, the NSA – Malam Nuhu Ribadu and security agents in general”.
On her part, the Commissioner for Social Welfare, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, expressed joy over the release of the pupils and noted that governor Uba Sani’s wish of taking the freed pupils to Aso Rock Villa in the near future would be great.
Representative of the male students Suleman Lawal said it was it with utmost joy that they rrcall the efforts of the governor for their release. On her part, representative of the female students, Aisha Muhammad, who was fondly addressed as “Barrister” expressed happiness with the fatherly role the governor played tirelessly to ensure they returned home and unharmed, just before she bursted into tears. A ‘lieutenant’ to “Barrister, barely said “I wish to profusely thank the governor” before she also burst into tears, while many of the female parents sobbed, for joy.
The handing over of the 137 students to their parents by the State government came about 48 hours after psycho-social process as directed by Governor Uba Sani, to determine the risks condition of trauma and physical health challenges, if any, amongst the freed victims ahead of the handover.
They were also hosted to a special ramadan dinner at the Government House, Kaduna, ahead of the formal reunification with their parents.
The SSG was also joined by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Malam Sani Liman Kila, commissioners of Internal Security and that of Human Services, Samuel Aruwan, and Hajiya Rabi Salisu among others.
