Some pupils from a Universal Basic Education primary school at Rama in Birnin-Gwari LGA of Kaduna state have been kidnapped.
NewsSpecng could not ascertain the number of abducted pupils as of the time of filing this report.
It was learnt that the gunmen also abducted some teachers from the school during the incident which happened Monday morning.
Kaduna Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the abduction of primary school pupils and teachers.
Aruwan said in a statement that the pupils and teachers were abducted on Monday.
He did not give the number of those abducted.
Part of the statement read, “The Kaduna State Government is receiving security reports of kidnapping of some pupils and teachers in a primary school located in Rema, Birnin Gwari local government area.
“According to preliminary reports, the incident occurred at an LEA Primary School in the LGA.
“The Kaduna State Government is currently obtaining details on the actual number of pupils and teachers reported to have been kidnapped and will issue a comprehensive statement as soon as possible.”
The bandits had on Thursday kidnapped over 30 students when they attacked the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
On Friday, troops of Quick Response Force of 1 Division, Nigerian Army, foiled an attempt by the bandits to kidnap some students of Turkish International Secondary School located in Rigachikun, Kaduna State.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, in a statement, said following the firefight, troops were able to rescue 180 persons, comprising of 132 male students, 40 female students, and eight civilian staff.
Another attempt to kidnap students of Government Science Secondary School, Ikara, Ikara Local Government Area of the state was also foiled on Sunday.
While narrating the incident, Aruwan said between the late hours of Saturday night and the early hours of Sunday, some suspected bandits stormed the Government Science Secondary School, Ikara, with intention to kidnap the students.
“Fortunately, the students utilised the security warning system in place, and were thus able to alert security forces in the area.
“The security forces, comprising the troops of the Nigerian Army, Police and some security volunteers, moved swiftly to the school and engaged the bandits, forcing them to flee.
“The military and police are still on the trail of the armed bandits,” he said.
The commissioner said following a headcount by the school management, the Kaduna State Government could confirm that all 307 students had been verified safe and present.
He added that the attempted kidnap was foiled completely and no student was taken from the school.
Aruwan also disclosed that around Ifira village in Igabi Local Government Area, bandits attempted to attack a senior staff quarter around the Kaduna airport general area.
“This attempt was also foiled as troops of the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Army engaged and repelled them, with several escaping with gunshot wounds.
“The state government acknowledges the efforts of the security agencies in the recent rescue of 180 students in the vicinity of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka.
“By virtue of access to the facts of the event, the Kaduna State Government extends its unequivocal solidarity to the Military, Police, Department of State Services and other security agencies, whose swift intervention prevented the bandits from abducting more persons,” the commissioner said.
