How Kuriga parents, pupils are getting back to life after abduction

The Kaduna state government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Services and Social Development, is providing psycho-social support to parents and community facilitators of Kuriga community in Kaduna to help them get back to life after last month’s abduction.   

The integrated training for an emergency service delivery to the affected population in Kuriga is aimed at addressing trauma among parents of the school children and other members of the community.

Recall that armed bandits abducted 137 students and pupils of LEA primary school, Kuriga and Government College, Kuriga as well as the school principal on 7th March, 2024.

They were however rescued in Zamfara state by the military and local authorities two weeks after their abduction but the principal lost his life.

Speaking at the event in Kaduna, the Commissioner, Ministry of Humanitarian Services and Social Development, Kaduna state, Hajiya Rabi Salisu said the state government is worried about the mental health of the parents and other community members after the Kuriga incident hence, the training.

She said, “The ministry in collaboration with the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is making sure it provides mental and psychosocial support to parents of the Kuriga school children. We have given a lot of training on psycho-social support to the children, but the parents also need to be educated on how to manage the children especially with regards to trauma.”

She noted that the aim of the training is to ensure that the children are reintegrated back into society assuring that the government has put in place all measures to ensure safety in Kaduna schools.

“Security personnel have been deployed to the community and we have enlisted the service of the local vigilante to secure,” she added.

She then expressed optimism that the team of experts from Borno state and other parts of the country will provide the technical know-how for the parents and community facilitators to educate the children on safety in schools.

One of the participants, Rukayya Isah who is the late Principal’s sister said with the support being given by the state government and UNICEF, they are able to take care of the five children and wife her brother left.

She noted that her brother was the only male among her parents’ five children, saying, “The training will further help them gain back their confidence in going about their normal activities.”

She disclosed that before the children were released, many parents believe their children will not return to school and assured she will educate the parents on the need to allow their children to go back to school.