At least 73 students were abducted from a state high school in Maradun district in Zamfara, local police said in a statement, adding that the high school was run by “armed bandits.”
“The kidnapping followed the invasion of the school by a large number of armed bandits,” according to the Zamfara State Police Command.
“A search and rescue team has been deployed to work with the army to locate and rescue the abducted children … Security has also been strengthened in Kaya Village and its surroundings to prevent further attacks on communities.” adds the statement.
Zamfara information commissioner Ibrahim Dosara told CNN on Thursday that schools in the state have been closed to prevent further attacks.
“We have closed primary and secondary schools in the state,” Dosara said, adding, “but it is requested that schools conducting examinations be left behind until examinations are completed … A strong security presence will be provided for protect these exams “.
Peter Hawkins, UNICEF’s representative in Nigeria, told CNN that Zamfara’s abduction “highlights the fragility of education and security” in the state.
“Bandits have reached a stage where all schools in Zamfara state have been closed through their actions. The impact this will have on children who want to learn will be profound, not just on the 73 children. they have life at stake for extortion purposes, but for all the children in Zamfara who are prevented from going to school and learning, “said Hawkins, who added that it is estimated that 1.3 million Nigerian children have been affected by frequent beatings in schools by gunmen.
Rescue kidnapping has become one of the major security challenges in Nigeria as Zamfara and other northwestern neighboring states have been affected by several mass kidnappings this year.
“Kidnapped children are at serious risk of being injured. Nigerian authorities must take all measures to return them to safety,” Amnesty added.