Nigeria: gunmen kidnap students in new kidnappings

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It is the third mass kidnapping of an academic institution in northern Nigeria this year and police say they are working to save the students.

“The police and military are on top of the situation. We are trying to contact the school management to find out the exact number of students kidnapped and then see the opportunity to rescue them unharmed and arrest the perpetrators,” said Kaduna police spokesman. Mohammed Jalige said.

Jamilu Abdullahi is a university student and told CNN that he heard the attackers shooting when they arrived around 3am.

Abdullahi said the gunmen were on their way to the female hostel, even though the male dorm is closer to the gate they entered.

“We saw them and ran … the bandits came and fired their guns and took the girls,” he said.

While it’s unclear how many students were kidnapped, Abdullahi said the number of girls living in that hostel was between 80 and 100.

This kidnapping is the latest in a series of similar kidnapping cases. Earlier this month, more than 300 schoolgirls were abducted from a school in Zamfara state, also in northwestern Nigeria.

At least 42 people were kidnapped last month from a state school in Kagara, Niger state and later released, and more than 300 schoolboys were taken and later released in December.

Ransom kidnappings are widespread in parts of Nigeria and pose a major security challenge. State governors regularly pay ransom to ensure the safety of victims, but rarely admit to doing so.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari recently told state governors to review “their policy of rewarding bandits with money and vehicles,” says the policy “could backfire with potentially disastrous consequences.” Buhari also urged governors to work hard to secure their schools.

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