In a recurring decimal, scores of students were on Monday morning, kidnapped from a boarding facility of the Bethel Secondary School, Maramara, Chickun Local Government Area of Kaduna State by gunmen.
A security guard of the school, Mr. Daniel Muhuta, gives an idea of what transpired: “I escaped narrowly. They came around 1.00am and started shooting. I was at the back of the school dormitory when I heard shooting and decided to pin down.”
Security personnel have cordoned off the area, as parents and relatives of the kidnapped students gathered at the entrance of the school in a sorrowful mood.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, on Sunday confirmed the kidnap of eight persons at the National Centre for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Quarters, in Zaria town of the state.
Jalige said, in the early hours of Sunday at about 1.30 am, suspected bandits in large number attacked a Divisional Police Headquarters, in Saye area of Zaria “In an attempt to overrun the officers on duty, they met a stiff resistance as there was heavy exchange of fire between the bandits and the police personnel on duty.
“Unfortunately as at the same period, some groups of bandits were attacking the National Centre for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Quarters at same Saye, of which eight persons were kidnapped and taken to an unknown destination,” he said.
He disclosed that 23 empty shells and three live GPMG ammunitions, as well as 34 empty shells of 7.62x39mm ammunitions, were recovered from the scene.
He said efforts had been intensified to rescue the abducted persons.
