There was palpable tension as bandits abducted over 200 school children and some teachers in a fresh attack in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria.
According to reports, the pupils and some of their teachers were kidnapped when they were on assembly grounds on Thursday morning, March 7, 2024.
A local source said: “The incident happened in the morning at about 8:30 am when the students were about to conclude the morning assembly. The bandits came from different parts of the village and encircled the school premises.
“The bandits kidnapped over 200 students, both primary pupils and secondary school students who were moved from a location outside the community to the primary school due to the fear of bandits attack.
“They also went away with a teacher, Isa They shot one student, Rabilu who was rushed to the Birnin Gwari hospital. He survived.
“They gathered all the children and forced them to move towards the North Eastern part of the community, on foot.
“The entire community is in deep confusion. Every household was affected. Besides, we are all related. We are also afraid of renewed attacks because the bandits might be hiding somewhere to wait for security operatives who may come on rescue missions.
“Kuriga is in a serious confusion. The situation is very unpleasant. The Vigilantes here are not well equipped. The security operatives are stationed at Udawa which is far. We also have a network problem,” he alleged.
Mansir Hassan, spokesperson of the Kaduna state police command, confirmed the incident.
Hassan, however, did not give details of the incident.
He said a police tactical team has been deployed to go after the criminals and rescue the victims.
“I am attending a security meeting, but a police tactical team has been deployed to go after the criminals by combing the bushes to rescue the victims. This is all I can say for now.”