Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed that gunmen, on Wednesday, attacked another school, Government Day Secondary School Kaya, Maradun Local Government Area (LGA), kidnapping 73 students.
SP Muhammed Shehu, the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed the incident in a statement in Gusau.
“The Zamfara State Police Command wishes to confirm the abduction of 73 Students of Government Day Secondary school, Kaya, in Maradun LGA.
“The abduction followed the invasion of the school by a large number of bandits on Wednesday at exactly 11:22 hrs.
Shehu said that the Commissioner of Police, Ayuba N Elkanah, has deployed a search and rescue team with a mandate to work in synergy with the military to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students.
According to him, 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.
He said that security has been beefed up at Kaya community and environs to forestall further attacks.
“Further development will be made known to members of the public,” he promised.
Hours later, the state government announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew on 13 local government areas of the state.
Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Elkana, announced the curfew while addressing newsmen in Gusau, the state capital.
Elkana said the 6pm to 6am curfew is with immediate effect.
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 it is 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 the measures followed the increasing rate of attacks and abduction of school pupils, students and even teachers in schools across the state.
