The Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has ordered the immediate closure of all boarding schools in the bandit ravaged areas of the state.
Governor Bello gave the directive on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 while meeting with heads of security agencies in the state at the Government House following the Kagara school abduction.
The Governor said the action is necessary to save the life of the students as the areas have already been taken over by bandits.
Earlier in the day, armed men attacked the Government Science College Kagara in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.
The incident started at about 2:00 am on Wednesday when the gunmen shot sporadically, with one student feared killed and several others abducted.
Some teachers and their family members residing within the college staff quarters were also said to have been abducted by the gunmen.
A government source who pleaded anonymity disclosed this to Channels Television via telephone conversation in the early hours of Wednesday.
The operations started from the staff quarters and ended in the students’ hostels and in the process, other students were also wounded by gunshots.
The gunmen gathered some staff and students at a place for hours before moving them out of the school premises to an unknown destination.
They wore a military uniform and entered the school premises which has about 1000 students, overpowered the security guard, before whisking away the students and staff.
A staff by the name Batagi who was among those kidnapped has escaped and is in the school as of the time of publishing this report. Others still with the bandits are Mall. Lawal, Ali, Hannatu, and her husband, Dodo, Mohammed Abubakar(Akawu), among others.
The State Police Command is yet to comment on the incident but an officer in the area who craves anonymity confirmed it.
Following the incident, President Buhari has directed armed forces and police to ensure the safe return of the abducted students.
The President has also dispatched a team of security chiefs to coordinate the rescue operation.
This was disclosed in a statement signed on Wednesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has 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.
“Following these reports, the President has directed the Armed Forces and Police, to ensure the 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”.
