Bandits kill cop, abduct students, teachers at federal college in Kebbi

18 Jun Bandits kill cop, abduct students, teachers at federal college in Kebbi

Armed bandits on Thursday afternoon abducted an undisclosed number of staff and students of the Government College (FGC), Yauri in Kebbi State, North-west Nigeria. The bandits struck. A policeman who tried to challenge the bandits was gunned down, according to witnesses in the town.

A witness disclosed that “three or four teachers of the college were abducted. Out of the abductees, there was a Vice Principal and a female teacher.”

“Two students, a male and female, were said to have been shot by the bandits. The boy was shot on the buttocks while the girl sustained a gunshot injury on her arm”, the witness added.

The heavily armed bandits, who came on motorcycles, reportedly entered the town from the neighbouring Rijau forest in Niger State.

The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed the attack. Its spokesman, Nafiu Abubakar, in the statement, said the police are in hot pursuit of the bandits.

While confirming the death of one policeman and kidnap of three teachers, he was however silent on the number or kidnapped students.

“Following the attack, three teachers and yet to be ascertained number of students are still missing,” the statement read.

Niger State where the bandits came from has seen more frequent attacks from bandits recently despite heightened security measure in the area. The state shares boundaries with Kebbi state.

The member representing Ngaski/Shanga/Yauri Federal Constituency of Kebbi State at the House of Representatives, Yusuf Tanko Sununu, also confirmed the abductions of students and teachers.

Sununu, who addressed journalists at the National Assembly, said the number of students and teachers abducted was yet to be ascertained.