Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Security agencies have launched a rescue operation following the abduction of six students of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, in Zamfara State after suspected bandits attacked their off-campus residence on the outskirts, a Low-Cost area of the town.
The Zamfara State Police Command confirmed the incident on Wednesday, stating that one of the seven students initially taken by the attackers managed to escape, while efforts were ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims.
Police spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit were working alongside troops of Operation Fansan Yamma to rescue the abducted students.
“Our VCRU personnel, together with troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, are working to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students,” Abubakar said.
According to him, the attack occurred at a private residence occupied by students outside the institution’s campus, stressing that the school itself remains adequately protected.
“The school premises have been fortified with adequate security personnel, making it extremely difficult for bandits to penetrate,” he said.
Abubakar explained that the assailants reportedly gained access to the residence after one of the students stepped outside during the night and left the door open.
“One of the students went outside during the night, claiming he wanted to urinate. In the process, he left the door open. Coincidentally, bandits passing through the area entered the house and abducted the students,” he stated.
The Chairman of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, Hon. Mannir Haidara Kaura, also confirmed the incident, assuring residents that security agencies had intensified efforts to secure the victims’ release.
“The incident occurred, and security operatives are currently carrying out rescue operations to ensure the safe return of the kidnapped students,” he said.
A student of the institution, Ibrahim Ahmad, disclosed that the escaped victim fled from captivity shortly after the abduction, leaving three male and three female students still in the hands of the kidnappers.
Meanwhile, a group, Concerned Citizens of Kaura Namoda, expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the area, blaming recurring attacks on the activities of a notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Bello Dansadiya, and his gang.
The group cited previous abductions in the area, including the kidnapping of two senior lecturers who reportedly spent more than two months in captivity despite ransom payments. It also recalled the abduction of three residents and a district head from a location close to a military base.
“Alarmingly, all these victims are reportedly still being held in a well-known bandit camp around Dajin Yamma, yet no rescue operations have taken place. Where are the fighter jets and armoured vehicles?” the group queried.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity in Zamfara and other parts of the North-West, where schools and communities continue to face attacks by armed groups.
