Niger cancels Children’s Day celebration

The Niger Government, yesterday, cancelled this year’s Children and Democracy Day celebrations in the state in deference to the Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram sect on April 14. The state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Danladi Ndayebo, told reporters in Minna that the cancellation was to respect the abducted girls and those affected by the current security challenges. Ndayebo said the day would instead be marked with prayers for the nation. According to him, “owing to the security situation in the country, Gov. Babangida Aliyu has directed that this year’s Children’s Day and Democracy Day be used to seek God’s face and intervention for the nation. “The Ministry for Gender Affairs and Social Development will mobilise children on that day across the state to pray for the release of the girls abducted by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State.” On Children’s Day, Ndayebo said children, both Muslims and Christians, would pray for Nigeria as well as the safe return of their colleagues who were abducted from school on April 14. He said the governor had appealed to workers to also pray to God to bring an end to terrorism and to restore peace in the troubled north east region and Nigeria at large. He urged the residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to security agencies, stressing that security for all is the responsibility of all.