El-Rufai withdraws son from Kaduna public school

Nasir El-Rufai

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has withdrawn his son Sadiq from Kaduna Capital School.

The enrolment of six-year-old Sadiq in the public school in 2019 got national attention, with many praising the governor for the unconventional move.

Mr El-Rufai and other state officials had escorted the boy to enrol in the school.

However, the governor has come under criticism following reports that he had withdrawn Sadiq from the school.

In an interview with BBC Pidgin, El-Rufai said he withdrew his son and daughter, who also later registered, to protect the lives of the other pupils of the school.

He said, “My son was registered in the school and even my daughter because she also clocked six years and we registered her in the school. But we had to temporarily withdraw them for the security of the school because we intercepted at least two groups that were planning to attack the school to kidnap my son.”

He said he didn’t think they would successfully kidnap his son because of the security, but that other children would be in danger.

El-Rufai had insisted he would not pay ransom to bandits even if his family member was kidnapped.

The governor explained that his son, who is still a registered pupil of the school, takes home classes but goes to the school to take exams.

He said that when they are sure there are no security risks, both of dem, “Abubakar Sadiq and Nasrine will go back to school.”