Bandits: Over 24 students of the Federal University of Gusau, Zamfara State have been kidnapped in the early hours of Friday.
It was reported that bandits invaded the Sabon-Gida community of the Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State and kidnapped the students.
One of the students in the school told newsmen that over 24 ladies were abducted during the attack.
Top society observed pictures suspected to be from the scene which showed a broken window and forced entrance.
A resident of Sabon-Gida, identified as Nazeer, affirmed that the gunmen invaded the community around 3 a.m. and began shooting indiscriminately.
“Three students’ hostels were attacked, and the bandits took away all the students. They entered the town around 3 am and started shooting indiscriminately,” he said.
He also said the number of kidnapped students were not yet identified.
“We have 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 numbers now.”
Another eyewitness told newsmen that the bandits were engaged with troops of the Nigerian Army in a fierce gun battle, but that did not stop the bandits from escaping with the kidnapped victims.
“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 eyewitness said.
The witness further explained that while a batch of the group took away the students, another group engaged the soilders
“The first group had left with the students while the second group engaged the army in a gun duel.”
Another indigene of Sabon Gida village, Abubakar Sani, told newsmen that the bandits, came in large numbers and stormed the students’ off-campus residences in the village. He said the students abducted were mostly females.
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In his report, he said Sani said the bandits invaded the area around 4:00am on Friday, where they attacked three students’ hostels.
“Many of the kidnapped students were females, while other students were able to escape to the bush.” he said.
He further narrated that the only kidnap victims were the university students. He said the bandits did not abduct any residents of the village.
He said the assailants headed straight for the university premises upon their arrival. They shot sporadically to scare people before gaining access to the school premises.
He said, “When they arrived the village, they went straight to the students [off campuses] and started shooting sporadically.
“They later broke into the campuses and brought a number of students who are mostly females.”
In videos online, a student of the institution was seen narrating how the gunmen got access into the hostels. The unidentified student was heard saying that the bandits broke into the hostels through the windows and ceiling.”
He added that, “They forced their way through the windows. They dragged them out through the window. Look here. And know which of the rooms is hers. Maybe this it’s this room.”
The windows’ rails, panes and locks were all were visibly damaged, while the ceiling was broken.
This comes after invasion of the kidnap of a reporter, Hamisu Danjibga, and was later found dead. Zamfara is reported to be one of the states with high levels of insecurity in the North West.
