How bandits overpowered vigilantes, invaded Zamfara school, abducted schoolgirls: Staff

Zamfara government has confirmed the abduction of female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, in the Talata-Mafara local government area just as witnesses revealed how the bandits invaded the school.

The Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, Abubakar Dauran, confirmed the abduction on Friday.

The abductors in their hundreds invaded the town and took away the students at about 2:00 am, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

“I can confirm to you now that we have sadly received the report on the abduction of the students of GGSS Jangebe, and right now, I am on my way to the school.

“At this moment, l cannot say how many students were taken away by the gunmen until l get there. But we have already mobilised security men and members of the vigilantatè, who are now in pursuit of the abductors,” the commissioner stated.

A staff of the school who spoke to NAN on the condition of anonymity said, “The gunmen in their hundreds invaded the town around 2:00 am on Friday, shot sporadically in the air to scare the residents before coming into the school.

“After taking away most of the students, we rounded up those that escaped or hid from the bandits and conducted a census where we counted 54 students, and we are still searching to see if we can get more.”

Also, a resident who gave his name as Haliru Jangebe said, the local vigilantes had tried to repel the invaders but were overpowered.

“The bandits were too many, and they all seemed to be carrying heavy arms as we heard gunshots from all parts of the town, and when the shots stopped, we heard that the students had been taken away.”

Nine days ago, bandits breached a high school in Niger State and seized about 27 students and school administrators. They are yet to be released as at press time.

©NAN