Bandits invade varsity hostels in Zamfara, kidnap 24 students
Military rescues 6, neutralises assailants
Bandits have abducted no fewer than 24 students from the Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State.
The bandits in large numbers were also said to have invaded the SabonGida community of Bungudu Local Government Area of the state.
Daily Trust Saturday learnt that three hostels were attacked and all the students there taken away.
The bandits were said to have been engaged by troops of the Nigerian Army in a fierce gun battle, but they escaped with the victims.
Sources in Sabon-Gida told Channels TV that the gunmen invaded the community around 3am and started shooting sporadically.
“They entered the town around 3am and started shooting indiscriminately. We are yet to confirm the number of students kidnapped because the bandits entered three hostels and kidnapped all the students there. It is difficult to ascertain their number now.
“They were seriously engaged with the army troops but the way these bandits operate, they will divide themselves into two, one group will move with the kidnapped victims while the other will stay behind to protect the first group.
“The first group had left with the students while the second group engaged the army in a gun duel,” a source was quoted as saying.
Recounting the incident, one of the students who managed to escape said, “They (the bandits) forced their way through the windows and dragged them out.”
Daily Trust Saturday observed that windows’ rails, panes and locks were all damaged, while the ceiling was broken.
Meanwhile, a top military source close to the commander of 1 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Gusau, confirmed to Channels TV that six of the students had been rescued.
The source said the brigade commander, Brigadier-General Sani Ahmed, was leading the operation with other security agencies in the forest along Tsafe Local Government Area of the state to rescue the remaining victims.
He added that several bandits were neutralised and weapons recovered during the operation.
Zamfara is one of the states with high level of insecurity in the North West, being ravaged by banditry.