Bandits abducted an unspecified number of Tsangaya students from their school in Gidan Bakuso, Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State, in the early hours of yesterday.
According to reports gathered by Okay.ng, the abduction took place around 1 am, sending shockwaves through the community. This incident occurred barely two days after the abduction of 285 students and a principal from a school in Kaduna State.
The proprietor of the Tsangaya school, Liman Abubakar, revealed that bandits invaded the community, shooting one person and abducting a woman before seizing the students. Abubakar lamented that 15 students are still unaccounted for, and efforts to locate them are ongoing.
Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Security, Colonel Ahmed Usman (rtd), confirmed the abduction, stating that the news was received during the graduation ceremony of the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps. He assured swift action, with a fighter jet mobilized to the area alongside ground troops to facilitate the safe rescue of the abductees.
Member representing Gada-East Constituency, Kabiru Dauda, also affirmed the attack, noting his immediate response upon receiving a distress call from the village. He assured that local government authorities and security agencies are actively addressing the situation.
Additionally, bandits reportedly attacked and killed three individuals, including the village head, at Turba village in Isa Local Government Area. This reprisal attack followed security operatives’ raids on bandits’ hideouts two days earlier.
The Sokoto State Police Command’s spokesman, Ahmad Rufa’i, confirmed the abduction, stating that efforts are underway to rescue the students and woman. The Commissioner of Police has mobilized resources, deploying a tactical operation team to the area under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner in charge of operations.