Tension in Kebbi as bandits abduct FGC Yauri students, teachers, kill policeman
There was tension on Thursday in Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State when armed bandits stormed Federal Government College, located in the tpwn, abducting many students and teachers.
It was gathered that a security operative was shot dead during the operation which lasted for several minutes.
According to eyewitness, the gunmen stormed the school in several motorcycles from neighbouring Rijau forest.
Eyewitness account revealed that the security men on duty engaged the bandits in gun duel at the main gate of the school but some of the bandits invaded the school by jumping over the fence from the back.
By the time the dust was over, at least 30 students and five teachers were abducted, including the Vice Principal of the school.
This is the third known attack on a school in the country within three weeks.
On May 30, pupils were abducted from an Islamic School in Tegina, Niger State.
Two weeks later, bandits abducted staff and students at Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic in Kaduna State.
In the meantime, , the member representing Ngaski/Shanga/Yauri Federal Constituency of Kebbi State at the House of Representatives, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu said the number of students and teachers abducted was yet to be ascertained.
He called on the Federal Government and security agencies to rise to the occasion and ensure the rescue of the abducted students and teachers.
Sununu said bandits have been having a field day in his constituency.
He said the southern part of the state has witnessed a lot of misfortune recently.
“Not long ago we lost over 154 people from my constituency when they were traveling in a boat that capsized, and we could only account for 98 corpses and 22 survivors.
“A week ago, we had another calamity when bandits, according to eye witnesses, numbering about 300, each with AK-47 rifles, and using very strong motorcycles, came into my constituency.
“They had a field day and operated for more than eight hours. Going from house to house, room to room, collecting money, handsets, motorcycles and cattle.
“That led to a massive influx of internally displaced persons to the headquarters of the emirate in the town of Yauri,” he said.
The lawmaker said they were able to convince to start going back to their respective areas.
He, however, disclosed that, the bandits had left a message after the attack, saying they would be back.
“Taking it seriously, some people refused to go back and today, they repeated what they had done earlier and they came into the constituency.
“They were able to have access after a strong fight with the policemen that were guarding the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri. They made inroad to the school.
“They succeeded in kidnapping some teachers and an unaccounted number of students. Some of the students and security men are currently receiving care at the General Hospital Yauri following gun injuries,” he said.
Similarly, the Police Command in Kebbi has confirmed the abduction of some students of Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, on Thursday afternoon.
Five teachers were also abducted while a policeman was killed during the attack.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Adeleke Adeyinka-Bode, confirmed the incident in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday, in an interview with our Correspondent.
“The truth is that the attack took place and five teachers have been taken away, four male and one female, but the number of students abducted are not known yet.
“The attack took place around 12:p.m., and during the crossfire between police and the bandits, some students had been injured and one police officer was also injured and another was killed. These are the facts I can give to you,” he said.
The police commissioner said that the school principal who should provide details of the number of students abducted was still in shock.
“The principal is not in the best state of mind as I am speaking to you now, because parents have trooped into the school searching for their children.
“So the principal cannot make proper head count call,” he added.
