#bringbackourboys trends on Twitter after 300 students went missing during an attack in Katsina State. In other news, Government to provide 300,000 low-cost housing units; 19 robbers reported missing, and a $30 million loan is granted.
300 Students
If a school, a place that students are supposed to be themselves and be happy becomes a place of terror, it is safe to say that the insecurity of Nigeria is at its worst. Not even up to two weeks after the Zambarmari massacre, bandits strike the north again. At 11:30 pm on Friday, armed men attacked Government Science Secondary School, Kankara LGA, Katsina State, kidnapping an unspecified number of students. Reports so far claim 200 students returned, although with two casualties. In the attack, assailants shot the police officer operating the gate; he did, however, survive albeit with injuries.
What’s more? This attack happened on the day President Buhari visited Kaduna for the first time in 2020, really? The spokesman of the state police command, Isah Gambo, has confirmed the attack. Aminu Masiri, Katsina State Governor, observed that over 300 students are still missing. In response, residents are protesting on the streets from Sunday, urging the government to find the students.
300,000 Houses
The federal government (FG) has embarked on a low-cost National Social Housing Plan (NSHP) in which about 20 states have shown interest already. Laolu Akande, Spokesperson to the Vice President, disclosed this in a report on Monday. According to the report, this housing plan is part of the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP). Recall, the Presidency approved the ESP in June with the office of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo taking charge. The first set of construction sites are located at Bauchi, Delta, Enugu, FCT, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, and Plateau States. Other interested states are still in the process of joining. A portal where Nigerians can access these housing units as beneficiaries or delivery partners is still in the works and will be ready by December 16th.
19 Robbers
According to an anonymous source, at least 19 robbers escaped from the Cross River State police command headquarters on Sunday night. Amid capture operations, the Command detained some policemen in charge of guarding the jail for questioning. The statement added that the robbers who allegedly sawed down the iron keys to their cells elude capture. However, the statement is false and misleading according to PRO of Cross River Police Command, Irene Ugbo who said that only three robbers escaped; adding that the Force has returned the escapees to their cells.
$30 million
The federal government has approved $30 million for direct lending to oil service providers in Nigeria. The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr Wabote Simbi disclosed this on Monday; adding that FG premised the funds on the wreckage, COVID-19 left on the price of oil. He maintained that this fund would make it easier to bridge cash flow gaps, prevent staff layoffs, and support operations in the oil sector.