Bandits attacks: Kaduna govt orders immediate closure of 13 schools
The Kaduna State Government has ordered the immediate closure of 13 schools located in areas that have been identified as vulnerable to attacks by bandits.
This followed Monday’s bandits’ attack on Bethel Baptist school in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where an unspecified number of students were kidnapped.
The directive which was issued by the Director-General of Quality Assurance Authority in the state Ministry of Education, Umma Ahmed to proprietors of private schools, said the closure is with immediate effect.
“You are hereby advised to adhere to the contents of this letter as appropriate sanctions shall be meted out to schools that are found wanting for non-compliance, please,” she said.
Ahmed listed the names of the affected schools to include Faith Academy, along Kachia Road adjacent to Jakaranda, Deeper Life Academy, Maraban Rido, ECWA Secondary school, Ungwar Maje and Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi.
Others are St. Peters Minor Seminary, Katari, Prelude Secondary School, Kujama, Ibiso Secondary School, Tashar Iche, Tulip International (Boys) School and Tulip international (Girls) School.
Also on the list are, Goodnews Secondary School, St. Augustine, Kujama, Comprehensive Development Institution (CDI), Tudun Mare and Adventist College, Kujama.
A combination of file photos of the map of Kaduna State and a gun recovered from crime suspects.
Kaduna has been experiencing series of attacks by bandits, with educational institutions considered as soft targets.
Monday’s attack at Bethel Baptist was the fourth mass school kidnap in Kaduna state since December.
Bethel Baptist High School is a co-education college established by Baptist church in 1991 at Maramara village in Chikun district outside the state capital Kaduna.
Bandits kidnapped unspecified number of students during an early morning attack on Bethel Secondary School, Kaduna.
The attack on the boarding school reportedly took place around 1a.m. on Monday.
The school is located in Maramara, Chickun Local Government Area on the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis.
Kaduna State Police Command could not confirm the number of students abducted, but said a joint security team comprising the Police, Army and others rescued 17 of the abducted students.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muhammed Jalige said: “Yes, I can confirm to you that there was an incident at the school but the joint security team comprising the Police, Army and others have rescued 17 students.
“We cannot say this is the number of students kidnapped for now. As soon as that information is available, we will issue a statement.”
Mr. Daniel Muhuta, one of the security guards at the school said he narrowly escaped the attackers.
“I escaped narrowly myself. They came around 1.00am and started shooting. I was at the back of the school dormitory when I heard the gunshots and decided to hide,” he said.
Four students were said to have escaped from their abductors and ran back to the school.
“The students told us that two soldiers were shot by the bandits, they could not confirm if the soldiers are still alive or not.
“It is difficult to say this is the number of students that were abducted,” a source said.
