Niger state governor, Abubakar Sani-Bello, has put a figure to the student victims of abduction at the Government Science College, GSC, Kagara in Rafi Local Government Area of the state.
The governor confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that 27 students, three staff members and 12 family members were abducted by gunmen who invaded the school in the early hours of Wednesday.
Bello made the confirmation at a news conference shortly after an emergency meeting with heads of security agencies in Minna.
There were reports that axstudent was shot dead by the bandits in the melee that ensued in the wake of the invasion of the school and in an attempt by the student to escape.
The Governor has directed that all boarding schools in Shiroro, Rafi and Muyan be closed down with immediate effect until the (security) situation improved.
The governor called on all indigenes and residents of the State to “condemn all forms of criminality in the state.”
He also called on the Federal Government to deploy all resources in securing the state.
The governor said that was necessary as backup while the State Government was doing everything possible to ensure safe return of the students and staff members.
Bello said that the State Government would not pay ransom to the suspected bandits in order to secure the release of their victims.
He explained that it would, instead, readily support any bandit who was ready to surrender their arms.
According to him: “When you negotiate and pay ransom to criminals, they will use the money to purchase more weapons.”
Government Science College, Kagara, has a total of 650 students out of whom the 27 were abducted and one, Benjamin Doma, was killed by the hoodlums.
Just last Sunday, February 14, 2021, 40 passengers travelling from Kontagora to Minna were abducted by suspected gunmen.
Eight of the 40 passengers abducted had since regained freedom while the remaining victims are still in the hands of their abductors who are demanding ransom.
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