At least 73 students have been abducted from a state-run high school in Zamfara’s Maradun district, local police said in a statement, adding that the high school was the target of “the armed robber.”
“The kidnapping took place after the entry of a large number of armed robbers into the school,” according to the Zamfara State Police Command.
“A search and rescue team has been deployed to work with the military to locate and rescue the kidnapped children… Security has also been increased at Kaya Village and containment environments.” further attacks on the community,” the statement added.
Zamfara’s Information Commissioner, Ibrahim Dosara, told CNN on Thursday that schools in the state were closed to avoid further attacks.
“We’ve closed elementary and middle schools in the state,” Dosara said, adding “but schools that are currently taking the written exam are asked to stay until they finish their exams… Security team rigor will be provided to protect those written exams.”
Peter Hawkins, UNICEF’s representative in Nigeria told CNN that Zamfara’s abduction “highlights the fragility of education and security” in the state.
“The robbers have reached a stage where all schools in Zamfara state have been closed due to their actions. The impact of this on children who want to learn will be profound – not just for 73 The child’s life is threatened for the sake of his life, Hawkins said, adding that an estimated 1.3 million Nigerian children have been affected by regular school raids by gunmen.
Kidnapping for ransom has become one of the major security challenges in Nigeria, with Zamfara and other neighboring northwestern states hit by several mass kidnappings this year.
“Kidnapped children are at risk of serious harm. Nigerian authorities must take every measure to bring them back to safety,” Amnesty added.
