75 students of Government Day Secondary School, Kaya, in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State who were abducted on September 1, 2021, have reportedly been released.
This was announced by Nigerian Television Authority via their Facebook page.
According to a report by the Nigerian Police, the bandits kidnapped more than 70 students in the state of Zamfara of which five were later returned within 24 hours of Abduction.
Giving further details, a statement by Mohammed Shehu, the spokesman of Zamfara State Police command noted that a large group of attackers stormed the Government Day Secondary School in the remote village of Kaya that Wednesday morning, seizing the pupils.
According to him, “The abduction followed the invasion of the school by large numbers of armed bandits”.
The State Government in response to the incident had ordered the immediate deboarding of boarding facilities in 30 schools within the state.
Also reacting to the news, UNICEF, on September 3rd, stated that it was horrified by yet another attack on an educational institution in Nigeria.
The agency stated that, “We strongly condemn this attack, which has happened just a few days after kidnapped students of a school in Niger State, north-central Nigeria, were freed.”
“We call on the authorities to take expedited action to rescue these students and reunite them with their families.”
“We reiterate that attacks on schools and abduction of learners are a gross violation of children’s rights, and a horrific experience for children to go through – one which could have long-lasting effects on their mental health and overall well-being.”
“Schools must be safe; no child should experience any harm because they went to school, and no parent should come to grief for sending their children to learn,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria.
