Zamfara State police command has confirmed the abduction of 73 students of Government Day Secondary School, Kaya, in Maradun Local Government Area of the state by bandits.
This is just as the governor, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, has ordered a closure of all primary and secondary schools in the state.
The governor also imposed a 6:00 p.m. to 6:00a.m. curfew in 14 local government areas of the state.
The report of the abduction was contained in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Shehu Mohammed, on Wednesday. Mohammed said the abduction followed the invasion of the school at about 11:22 a.m. by several bandits.
“The command, under the leadership of CP Ayuba N Elkanah, has deployed search and rescue team, which has been mandated to work in synergy with the military to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students.
“The CP further appealed to the general public, especially parents and relatives of the abducted students, to exercise patience and continue to pray for the success of the ongoing rescue operation.
“Security has also been beefed up at Kaya village and environs to forestall further attack on the communities,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, while addressing newsmen on Wednesday at the police headquarters in Gusau, the police boss, who said he was directed to announce the total closure of all primary and secondary schools across the state and the curfew, added that:
”In Gusau, the lockdown will start from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., while in the remaining 13 local government areas, the curfew will be from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
“Following the security threat, the governor has directed the closure of all primary and secondary schools with a view to ensuring the safety of citizens of the state.”
He stressed security agencies had been mandated to ensure compliance with the curfew order.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
