The Niger State Government has released the names of the students, teachers, and other residents abducted from Government Science Secondary School Kagara on Wednesday.
A list which emanated from the State Ministry of Education shows 27 students were abducted alongside 5 staff and 9 members of their families, making a total of 41 persons abducted from the school.
Three of the staff abducted are teachers while two are non-teaching staff.
The names of the students include Jamilu Isah, Shem Joshua, Abbas Abdullahi, Isah Abdullahi, Ezekeil Danladi, Haliru Shuibu, Mamuda Suleiman, Danzakar Dauda, Abdulsamad Sanusi, Bashir Abbas.
Others are: Suleiman Lawal, Abdullahi Adamu, Habakuk Augustine, Idris Mohammed, Musa Adamu, Abdulkarim Abdulrahman, Abubakar Danjumma, Abdullahi Abubakar, Bashir Kamalideen, Mohammed Salisu.
The rest of the students abducted are Yusuf M Kabir, Isah Abdullah Makusidi, Polineous Vincent, Lawal Bello, Mohammed K Shehu, Mubarak Sidi and Abdulsamad Nuhu.
According to the government list, the names of the abducted teachers are Hannatu Philip, Lawal Abdullahi, and Dodo Fodio, while the non-teaching staff are Mohammed Musa and Faiza Mohammed.
Others abducted include Christiana Adama, Faith Adama, Maimuna Suleman, Nura Isah, Ahmad Isah, Khadizat Isah, Mohammed Mohammed, Aisha Isah, and Saratu Isah.
Earlier on Wednesday morning, armed men attacked the Government Science College Kagara in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State shooting sporadically.
A student Benjamin Habila was shot and killed by the bandits on the school premises while several others abducted.
Some teachers and their family members residing within the college staff quarters were also said to have been abducted by the gunmen.
The operations started from the staff quarters and ended in the students’ hostels and in the process, other students were also wounded by gunshots.
The gunmen gathered some staff and students at a place for hours before moving them out of the school premises to an unknown destination.
They wore a military uniform and entered the school premises which has about 1000 students, overpowered the security guard, before whisking away the students and staff.
A staff member by the name Batagi who was among those kidnapped has escaped and is in the school as of the time of publishing this report. Others still with the bandits are Mall. Lawal, Ali, Hannatu, and her husband, Dodo, Mohammed Abubakar(Akawu), among others.
- Following the abduction, Governor Bello ordered the immediate closure of all boarding schools in bandit ravaged areas.
He gave the directive while meeting with heads of security agencies in the state at the Government House.
The Governor said the action is necessary to save the life of the students as the areas have already been taken over by bandits.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello meets with heads of security agencies on the abduction of Kagara students
Following the incident, the Senate has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on insecurity in the country.
The resolution follows a motion by Senator Sani Musa during plenary on Wednesday.
Senator Bima Enagi from Niger State in his contribution, accused the President of incompetence as the security situation is worsening in the country.
He argued that the constitution should be amended to give governors more powers as they are the security officers in their states because the Federal government is incompetent in handling security.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed armed forces and police to ensure the safe return of the abducted students.
The President has also dispatched a team of security chiefs to coordinate the rescue operation.
This was disclosed in a statement signed on Wednesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has received reports of the brazen attack on Government Science College, Kagara, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, following which a yet to be ascertained number of staff and students have been abducted by gunmen.
“Following these reports, the President has directed the Armed Forces and Police, to ensure the immediate and safe return of all the captives. The President has also dispatched to Minna, Niger State a team of security chiefs to coordinate the rescue operation and meet with state officials, community leaders, as well as parents and staff of the College”.
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