At least 73 students were abducted from a state-run high school in Zamfara’s Maradun district, local police said in a statement, adding that the high school was targeted by “armed bandits.”
“The abduction followed the invasion of the school by a large number of armed bandits,” according to Zamfara State Police Command.
“A search and rescue team has been deployed to work with the military to locate and rescue the abducted children… Security has also been beefed up at Kaya Village and environ to forestall further attacks on the communities,” the statement added.
Zamfara’s Information Commissioner, Ibrahim Dosara, told CNN on Thursday that schools in the state have been closed down to avoid further attacks.
“We have closed primary and secondary schools in the state,” Dosara said, adding “but schools currently writing examinations are asked to stay behind until they finish their examinations… Heavy security presence will be provided to protect those writing exams.”
Peter Hawkins, UNICEF’s representative in Nigeria told CNN the Zamfara kidnapping “highlights the fragility of education and security” in the state.
“The bandits have reached a stage now where all schools in Zamfara state have been closed down through their actions. The impact this will have on children who want to learn will be profound — not only on those 73 children whose lives are at stake for purposes of extortion, but for all children in Zamfara who are prevented from being able to go to school and learn,” said Hawkins, who added that an estimated 1.3 million Nigerian children have been affected by frequent raids on schools by gunmen.
Kidnapping for ransom has become one of the major security challenges in Nigeria, with Zamfara and other neighbouring northwestern states being hit with several mass kidnappings this year.
“The children abducted are in serious risk of being harmed. Nigerian authorities must take all measures to return them to safety,” Amnesty added.
