The Zamfara Government, on Wednesday, announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew in 13 local government areas in the state, following the kidnap of students and staff of a day school there.
While the Police confirmed that 73 students were kidnapped, there was no word on teachers and staff allegedly picked up along with the students.
Commissioner of Police in the state Ayuba Elkana announced the curfew while addressing newsmen in Gusau.
Elkana said that the curfew was with immediate effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a. m. daily in the 13 local government areas except Gusau, the state capital.
According to him, “the curfew takes effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a. m in Gusau, the state capital until further notice.”
He said that the curfew had been imposed as part of measures to tackle the growing banditry and kidnapping in the state.
The commissioner also announced the total and immediate closure of “all schools in the state.”
Elkana said that the measures followed the increasing rate of attacks and abduction of school pupils, students and even teachers in schools across the state.
The commissioner, however, declined comment on alleged reports of a fresh abduction of school students in parts of the state on Wednesday, including a secondary school in Kaya, Maradun Local Government area of the state.
Earlier, the State Police Command confirmed the abduction of 73 students of Government Day Secondary school, Kaya in Maradun LGA. The abduction followed the invasion of the school by large number of armed bandits that occurred at exactly 11.22 a.m on Wednesday.
A statement by the police spokesman, SP Mohammed Shehu added that the deployed search and rescue team that was mandated to work in synergy with the military to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students
“The CP further appealed to the general Public especially parents and relatives of the abducted students to exercise patience and continue to pray for the success of the Ongoing rescue operation. Security has also been been beefed up at Kaya Village and environ to forestall further attack on the communities.
“Further development will be made known to members of the public,” the statement said
▪︎ Additional report by NAN
