• Arewa students campaign against terrorism

Members of the National Association of Arewa Concerned Students (NAACS) have demanded the immediate release of the 219 missing school girls abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by the Boko-Haram sect. No fewer than 234 of the girls were abducted by the insurgents on April 14, but some of them reportedly escaped, bringing the number down to 219. 
As part of the global response and campaign for the release of the victims, Arewa students visited Angwan Lambu Primary School, where a combined prayer session was held for the quick release of the girls.
Sadly, the visit exposed the fears of the pupils in the school, who have been obsessed with worries of possible attack by insurgents.
In a joint prayer by both Christians and Muslims pupils, Umar Yunusa, a Primary 6 pupil led the Muslim prayer while Chinaza Udeh, also in Primary 6 interceded on behalf of the Christians.
Hear Umar’s prayer; “Oh Allah! I pray that you touch the Boko Haram members to release our students because they are innocent and just victims of circumstances.”  He concluded his prayer by reciting verses from the Holy Qur’an.
Leading the Christian prayer, Chinaza said, “Our heavenly Father, the kidnap victims are students like us. We share the same pain with them and their parents. You alone know where they are and may you make it possible for them to re-unite with their families for you alone has the power to do so”. She also prayed for continued peace, unity and understanding among Nigerians.
A Primary 6 pupil of the school, Felix Jatau, gave a shocking narration, describing the insecurity in the North as worrisome.
“I fear what may befall me as I step into secondary school. I am in Primary 6 now; I have a future! I want my dreams and aspiration for a better Nigeria to be realized and I fear that it might not be, going by current happenings. Many parents are discouraged from sending their children to school,” he said.
Female pupils, Blessing Aruwa and Judith Daniel jointly asked rhetorically in a drama like manner, “Why are they attacking women? Women are nation builders.”
The Head Boy of the school, Daniel David said members of the Boko Haram sect and the government should put themselves in the shoes of the parents of the missing girls to understand how painful it is.  He added, “Enough is enough. We want our girls back now!”
The pupils carried placards and moved round their school, demanding the release of the missing girls. Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, “We want our girls back”, “Please, save the future of education!” “Parents are discouraged from sending their children to school!” “Poverty, criminality and other social vices are on the increase!” “Arewa students say no to bad governance. Mr. President change your tactics.”
The National President of the National Association of Arewa Concerned Students, Comrade Muhammad Kamaluddeen Abubakar, said it has become necessary to take the campaign against terrorism to the grassroot level to encourage pupils and their parents not to lose faith in education.
He said the association is determined to help in fighting illiteracy, laziness and poverty and to plant the seed of pride, unity and dedication in the younger generation.
The Assistant Head Mistress of the school, Mrs. Mary Bamaiyi, thanked the student leader and his team for their effort in organizing such a compassionate rally, which she said would give students a voice in the prevailing war between the government and Boko Haram over the release of the school girls.
She also commended the government of the state for its continued support to education and called on the authorities to provide the school with a perimeter fence to ensure the safety of pupils during school hour.

We are afraid of going to school –Nasarawa pupils