Troops Locate Kagara School Students, Niger Workers In Forest

Nigerian troops have located kidnapped students and staff of Government Science College, Kagara in Niger State in a forest.

A top security source told The PUNCH, that the troops had through air surveillance located the 18 passengers of the state transport service, who were kidnapped at Yakila village in Niger state on  Sunday.

The source said the bandits that kidnapped the students and the passengers belong to the same gang. He added that security forces had cornered the bandits.

He said the two groups of abductees were being kept close to each other in Kotonkoro forest in Niger State, but close to Zamfara State.

Meanwhile, recounting his experience, a pupil, simply identified as Ndako, said: “I ran into the bush. It was dark and they were shooting but I kept running seriously. Luckily, I got to a house and hid behind it. Three other students met me and we stayed there till morning when we came out.”

A staff member, Aliyu Isah, who said his family members were abducted, added that he could not believe he came out of the ordeal alive.

“I ran toward the field and they were shooting at me. I did not run straight. I was swerving to escape their bullets. I ran until I got to a house where I hid until after 2 am when the kidnappers left,” Isah said.

Ndako and Isah spoke with Channels through the telephone on Thursday. They said the bandits wore military outfits when they broke into the hostels and some of the staff quarters in the college.

Security sources said: “I can confirm to you that after the aerial surveillance, two kidnapping groups have been spotted. They have been keyed at a corner in danger zone right now. They are not even talking about negotiations as they are concerned about their safety.”