Gunmen kidnap dozens of students in northwestern Nigeria

By Olarewaju Kola

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Gunmen have abducted dozens of students from a school in northwestern Nigeria's Zamfara state, police said Wednesday.

A large number of gunmen stormed the Government Day Secondary School in Kaya, a remote town, and whisked away scores of students, said police spokesman Mohammed Shehu.

"The Zamfara State Police command has deployed a search and rescue team in synergy with the military to ensure the safe return of the students," he said.

Zamfara Police Commissioner Ayuba Elkana also announced the closure of all elementary and secondary schools in the state by the government over more threats of attacks on schools.
"It's a threat. You know the bandits will like to go back to kidnap these students. So for their safety, the schools have to be closed until peace is restored," Elkana said.

He however said he did not know the exact number of students abducted as the authorities take a tally of missing students.

The attack came days after some students who were abducted on Aug. 16 at the College of Agriculture in Zamfara were released by their abductors.

Zamfara and around seven states in the country's northwest and north-central states have been experiencing attacks on schools and kidnappings by gunmen often labelled bandits by locals.