KADUNA– Bandits on Monday attacked Bethel Secondary School, Maramara in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, abducting about 100 students.
The incident came less than 24 hours after a similar one involving the abduction of babies, nurses and security guards from the residential quarters of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Centre (NTLC) in Zaria, in the same state.
A staff member of the school, who did not want to be named, said over 140 students were abducted.
“Over 100 students were abducted, both boys and girls, even though the school is still trying to compile names but the number may even be high,” he said.
The Kaduna Police Command, which could not confirm the number of students kidnapped from the boarding school, said a joint team of the Police, Army and Navy operatives upon receiving the distress call gave the bandits a hot pursuit occasioned by a tactical application of weapons and succeeded in rescuing 26 students and a female teacher safely.
“Yes, I can confirm to you that there was an incident at the school but the joint security team comprising the police, army and others have rescued 26 students,” Mr. Muhammed Jalige, the Police Public Relations Officer, said.
Mr. Daniel Muhuta, a security guard, said the school was attacked about 1a.m on Monday.
“I escaped narrowly myself. They came around 1a.m and started shooting. I was at the back of the school dormitory when I heard the gunshots and decided to hide.”
Some of the rescued students reported that two soldiers were shot by the bandits, but they could not confirm if the soldiers died.
A source said that it was difficult to determine the number of students who were abducted.
“Even the students who escaped were still in a state of confusion and could not tell the number of their mates the bandits went away with,” the source said.
Security personnel have cordoned off the area as worried parents and relatives of the kidnapped students besieged the school.
