Six students of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, are currently in captivity after suspected bandits attacked their off-campus residence in the Low-Cost area of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area.
The Chairman of Kaura Namoda LGA, Hon. Mannir Haidara Kaura, confirmed the incident and assured that security agencies had launched rescue operations aimed at securing the safe return of the abducted students.
“The incident occurred, and security operatives are currently carrying out rescue operations to ensure the safe return of the kidnapped students,” he said.
A student of the institution, Ibrahim Ahmad, disclosed that seven students were initially taken during the attack, but one of the victims managed to escape. According to him, three male and three female students remain in the custody of the abductors.
Reacting to the development, a local advocacy group, Concerned Citizens of Kaura Namoda, blamed the worsening security situation in the area on the activities of the notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Bello Dansadiya, and his gang.
The group alleged that the attack was part of a series of recurring abductions in the community, citing previous cases involving two lecturers who were reportedly held captive for over two months despite ransom payments, as well as the kidnapping of residents and a district head in communities located near a military base.
“Alarmingly, all these victims are reportedly still being held in a well-known bandit camp around Dajin Yamma, yet no rescue operations have taken place. Where are the fighter jets and armoured vehicles?” the group queried.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said one student escaped while six others remain in captivity. He, however, emphasized that the attackers did not gain access to the institution’s premises.
“The school premises have been fortified with adequate security personnel, making it extremely difficult for bandits to penetrate,” Abubakar stated.
He explained that preliminary findings indicated that one of the students had reportedly left a door open while stepping out at night, creating an opportunity for the attackers to enter the residence.
According to the police spokesperson, security personnel attached to the Victims and Crime Response Unit (VCRU), in collaboration with troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, have intensified efforts to rescue the abducted students and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over the persistent insecurity in Zamfara State and the vulnerability of students living in off-campus accommodations across the region.
