Gunmen suspected to be bandits have invaded LEA primary school at Kuriga community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, shooting a pupil and abducting over 200 others including teachers.
Kaduna State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan confirmed the incident but did not give detail.
”I’m attending a security meeting but the police tactical team has been deployed to go after the criminals by combing the bushes to rescue the victims,” he said.
A source who preferred anonymity disclosed that the incident happened at about 8. 30 am as the pupils were about to conclude the morning assembly.
The source said the bandits came from different parts of the village and encircled the school premises.
“The bandits kidnapped over 200, both primary school pupils and secondary students. The secondary school students were moved from a location outside the community to the primary school due to the fear of bandits’ attack.
“They also went away with a teacher, named Isa. They shot one student, identified simply as Rabilu, who was rushed to Birnin Gwari hospital. He survived.
“They (bandits) gathered all the children and forced them to move towards the North Eastern part of the community, on foot.
” The entire community is in deep confusion. Every household was affected. Besides, we are all related We are also afraid of renewed attacks because the bandits might be hiding somewhere to wait for security operatives who may come on rescue mission .
“Kuriga is in serious confusion. The situation is very unpleasant.The vigilante here are not well equipped. The security operatives are stationed at Udawa which is far. We also have network problem,” he said.
Meanwhile, an official of the state government who confirmed the incident while speaking with journalists, assured that a statement would soon be issued.
While reacting to the attack, former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, in a statement via his X, said, “It’s tragic to hear that 232 students have just been kidnapped in Kuriga village,Chikun LG in Kaduna State.
”It’s the same village where a school principal, Idris Sufyan, was killed and his wife kidnapped over a month ago. However, I’m optimistic their freedom will be secured.”
The latest abduction came barely twenty-four hours after Boko Haram insurgents kdnapped 300 women in Borno State and set ablaze their Internally Displaced Persons’ camp.
The Federal Government came up with the Safe Schools Initiative to stave off further invasion of schools and kidnap of pupils’students.
The project came into being after the global outcry that followed the abduction of students of Government Girls College in Chibok, Borno State in 2014.
According to the National Coordinator, Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria, Hajia Halima Iliya Ibrahim, “A national plan on Financing Safe Schools was developed and launched in December, 2022. The National Plan will be implemented between 2023 -2026, with a total investment size of N144. 8 billion.
“The plan proposes N32.58 in 2023, N36.98 billion in 2024, N37. 15 billion in 2025 and N38.03 billion in 2026 respectively. To this end, the Federal Government made a provision of N15 billion in 2023.”
Also the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, recently unveiled security equipment and commenced a training programme for state coordinators of the Schools Protection Squad, SPS, and selected Divisional Police Officers nationwide.
