Police authorities in Kaduna State say 27 of the victims kidnapped from Bethel Baptist School in Maraban Rido, a community in Chikun Local Government Area of the state, have been rescued.
Armed bandits had stormed the school in the early hours of Monday, overcoming the school’s security guards and abducting an unspecified number of students.
Read Also: Just In: Bandits Kidnap Many Students Of Bethel Baptist School, Kaduna
Some witnesses said at least 100 students were kidnapped by the bandits but the police and school authorities have yet to give an official figure.
Spokesman of the Police in the state Muhammed Jalige said the victims, 26 students and a female teacher, were rescued after a joint team of Nigeria Police, Army and Navy operatives, chased after the bandits after being informed of the attack.
The police spokesman, who put the time of the attack at 1:43 am, said efforts were being made to ensure the rescue of all the victims and their safe return.
He expressed;
Rescue operation is still ongoing to ensure that all victims are safely returned. Officers involved in the said operation are charged to ensure no stone is left unturned with a view to successfully accomplish the rescue mission since resources will be availed to them without delay.
The command’s spokesman encouraged parents not to be deterred by the activities of bandits in the state, which has seen schools and learning institutions targeted.
This, Jalige said, is because strategic measures will be put in place to forestall further occurrence of such dastardly acts of criminality against innocent children.
He added;
The (Police) Command is saddened by the incident and calls on all stakeholders in security to unite, particularly at this very critical time, to safeguard schools in order to guarantee a safe and secured learning environment and other meaningful businesses.
The abduction comes few days after Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai confirmed the withdrawal of his 7-year-old son, Abubakar Al-Sadiq El-Rufai, from a public school in the state.
Read Also: Gov El-Rufai Withdraws Son From Public School, Says Bandits Are Targeting Him
Speaking in an interview with BBC Pidgin, El-Rufai said his son had been targeted by bandits because of the governor’s public stand against the payment of ransom.
He added that his daughter, Nesrin, was also enrolled in the school when she turned six.
El Rufai said though there was no threat to Nesrin, both children were removed from the school on the advice of security agencies.
