TheCable

The Zamfara police command has confirmed the abduction of 73 students from the Government Day Secondary School in Kaya, Maradun LGA of the state.

TheCable had reported that the gunmen invaded the school around 11am on Wednesday, and taken the students to an unknown location.

Following the attack, Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, ordered the closure of all schools in the state.

According to a statement on Wednesday by Mohammed Shehu, the Zamfara police spokesman, a search-and-rescue team has been deployed to find the students.

“The Zamfara state police command wishes to confirm the abduction of 73 students of Government Day Secondary school, Kaya in Maradun LGA. The abduction followed the invasion of the school by large number of armed bandits that occurred today at exactly 1122hrs,” the statement reads.

“The command under the leadership of CP Ayuba N Elkanah psc+ has deployed search and rescue team that was mandated to work in synergy with the military to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students.”

Shehu said the police commissioner appealed to the general public, especially parents and relatives of the abducted students, to be patient 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,” he added.

“Further development will be made known to members of the public.”

The development is the latest in a series of attacks on communities across Zamfara, and the north-west region in general.

Prior to the Wednesday attack, two other schools in the state have been invaded by suspected bandits this year.

In an effort to curb insecurity, the Zamfara government recently announced a temporary ban on the transportation of livestock beyond the state’s borders.

The governor has also ordered the closure of weekly markets across the state, while transportation of food items will be subject to verification.