Atiku Condemns Abduction Of Kaduna Schoolgirls

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the abduction of 30 female students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Mando, Kaduna State on Thursday evening.

This news medium had reported how gunmen suspected to be bandits invaded the school and abducted the students from their hostel on Thursday night.

But in a tweet via his verified Twitter handle on Friday, the People Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain said a situation where only girl students are specifically targeted for abduction raises serious concerns

The former presidential candidate urged the authorities to spare no resources in securing the release of the schoolgirls.

He wrote: “A situation where only girl students—an already vulnerable group that is playing catch-up in the North, is specifically targeted for abduction raises serious concerns.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the affected students’ families, even as I urge that no resources should be spared to secure their release.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government has confirmed the kidnap of 30 female students of the school.

Speaking to journalists at the College gate on Friday, state Commissioner for Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan, said the school was attacked around 11:30pm on Thursday.

Aruwan noted that 30 students were abducted by the bandits, while 180 other students were rescued by troops of the Nigerian Army from 1 Division.

He said the troops prevented the bandits from taking many students, assuring parents that security agents, including police and military, were working round the clock to rescue them.

He said: “Troops of the Nigerian Army in the early hours of today, Friday, 12th March 2021 rescued 180 citizens, many of them students, at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Igabi local government area of Kaduna State.

“The armed bandits in large number had attacked the institution at around 11:30pm on Thursday and kidnapped several students and staff.

“The armed bandits broke into the institution by breaching a perimeter fence. They then encroached about 600 meters to attack the first facility.

“The Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs on receiving a distress call alerted the 1 Division Nigerian Army and the Air Training Command of the Nigerian Air Force.

“Troops of the Nigerian Army immediately moved to the school and engaged the armed bandits accordingly.

“The troops successfully rescued 180 citizens; 42 female students, eight staff and 130 male students. However, about 30 students, a mix of males and females, are yet to be accounted for.

“Some of the rescued students were injured and presently receiving medical attention at a military facility.”