Suspected bandits have abducted six students of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, after attacking their off-campus residence in the Low-Cost area of the town.
The Chairman of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, Hon. Mannir Haidara Kaura, confirmed the incident and said security operatives had launched efforts to rescue the victims.
“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, Ibrahim Ahmad, disclosed that one of the victims managed to escape, while three male and three female students remain in captivity.
A local advocacy group, Concerned Citizens of Kaura Namoda, attributed the attack to worsening insecurity in the area and alleged that the gang of notorious bandit leader Kachalla Bello Dansadiya was responsible.
The group recalled previous abductions in the community, including the kidnapping of two lecturers who were reportedly held for more than two months despite the payment of ransom. It also cited the abduction of several residents and a district head near 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 spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, also confirmed the attack. He said one student escaped while six others remain in captivity and clarified that the institution’s premises were not breached.
“The school premises have been fortified with adequate security personnel, making it extremely difficult for bandits to penetrate,” he said.
According to the police spokesperson, the attackers gained access to the students’ residence after a student allegedly left a door open while going out at night.
He added that security personnel under the Victims and Criminal Rescue Unit (VCRU) and Operation Fansan Yamma had intensified rescue operations to secure the release of the abducted students.
