Don’t Be Demoralised, Gov’s Wife Tells Tegina Pupils

Laleye Dipo in Minna
The First Lady of Niger State, Dr Amina Sani-Bello has urged the pupils of Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School that regained their freedom last Thursday not to be demoralised, but remain strong and continue with their education.

Bello gave this admonition when she paid a solidarity visit to the pupils and their parents in Tegina, a town in Rafi Local Government Area (LGA), Niger State yesterday.
During the solidarity visit, Bello explained that what the pupils and their parents went through for 86 days in the captivity of bandits was dehumanising.

Despite their travails in the captivity, Bello challenged the pupils that regained freedom last Thursday to regard the experience as one of the problems of life.

She expressed concern over the condition in which the children had been kept and treated describing it as inhumane, though said now that they had regained freedom, they should seek proper medical care.
The wife of the governor, however, told the children “to take solace in their return and thank God that they are back home and will be united with their parents

“You must be courageous enough to embrace and get your normal life back and continue your studies when you are reunited with your respective parents,” she encouraged them during the solidarity visit.
Bello expressed delight at the release of the children, commending the state government for the effort made to ensure the safe release of the children.

The pupils were abducted and taken into hiding on May 30, but regained freedom on August 27 after an unspecified amount of money and five new Bajaj Motorcycles were given to the bandits before they were released.