Buhari despatches security officials to Niger as gunmen abduct students, others

Etim Ekpimah

Gunmen on Wednesday around 2.00 am attacked Government Science College Kagara in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

One student was reportedly killed when the gunmen shot continuously while abducting others.

Many teachers and their family members living within the college staff quarters were also said to have been abducted by the gunmen.

Operations was said to have started from the staff quarters and ended in the students’ hostels and in the process, other students were also wounded by gunshots.

It was gathered that the gunmen assembled some workers and students at a place for hours before moving them out of the school premises for an unknown destination.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen were dressed in military outfits and entered the school premises, which has about 1000 students, overpowered the security guard, before whisking away the students and staff.

A worker in the college, Batagi, who was among those kidnapped has escaped and is in the school.

According to him, others still with the bandits are Mall. Lawal, Ali, Hannatu and her husband, Dodo, Mohammed Abubakar (Akawu), and more.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement on Wednesday condemned the attack on students at the college.

According to the statement, Buhari received reports of the brazen attack on Government Science College, Kagara, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, following which a yet to be ascertained number of staff and students have been abducted by gunmen.

The statement read: “Following these reports, the President has directed the Armed Forces and Police, to ensure immediate and safe return of all the captives.

“The President has also dispatched to Minna, Niger State a team of security chiefs to coordinate the rescue operation and meet with state officials, community leaders, as well as parents and staff of the college.

“President Buhari has assured of the support of his administration to the Armed Forces in their brave struggle against terrorism and banditry and urged them to do all that can be done to bring an end to this saga and avoid such cowardly attacks on schools in the future.

“Our prayers are with families of the victims of this attack,” said the President as he condemned as cowardly the attack on innocent school children.