Nation
Jangebe Schoolgirls: FG Has Failed Nigerians, Northern Elders Lament
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has regretted that in spite of assurances from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government that it would bring to an end banditry and kidnappings in the region, the lives of Nigerians were becoming more endangered every day.
NEF said this in a statement, yesterday, while condemning the abduction of 317 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School in Jangebe, Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits stormed the school in the early hours last Friday, and abducted 317 students.
In its statement signed the Director, Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmad, NEF said Nigerians had “lost faith that government will reverse the successes of the criminal against defenceless citizens.”
He said the “Northern Elders Forum shares the profound shock and outrage of Nigerians at the spate of kidnappings of boarding school children in different parts of the North,” the statement added.
The elders warned that these recurring abductions will severely damage the already poor state of education in the region, particularly girl-child education.
They lamented that the Buhari government has done little or nothing to limit exposure of Nigerians to violent criminals.
The group also noted that governors now quarrel over causes and strategies to adopt in tackling these criminalities, alleging that many of the governors are “taking steps that have dubious legal foundations, most of which merely compound the security situation.”
It further urged governors to also “intensify multi-pronged approaches to ending banditry and kidnappings, including measures which prevent the continuation of these criminal activities by those who show a genuine willingness to stop.”
It said, “Bandits who refuse to submit to the mediation and cessation of criminal activities should be treated in accordance with the laws of the country.”
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
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