Terrorists Abduct Federal College Students In Northwest Nigeria

Terrorists have abducted an unspecified number of students from the Federal Government College (FGGC) in Yauri Local Government Area, Kebbi State, Northwest Nigeria, on Thursday, June 17.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that the terrorists invaded the school on motorcycles, shot several students, and kidnapped many others.

According to one of the eyewitnesses, the terrorists overpowered the guards at the school, confiscated their Toyota Hilux van, and went away with the students in it.

Sources said some of the wounded students were taken to hospitals to receive treatment after escaping from the abduction.

The member representing Yauri at the National House of Representatives, Muhammad Bello Ingaski, told BBC Hausa that the terrorists abducted both men and women on Thursday.

“The terrorists overpowered over 20 police officers deployed to protect the school. They shot and stabbed many of them,” Ingaski said.

“Some of the police officers stabbed have been taken to hospital. The gunmen have kidnapped students.”

He added that some students had run into the nearby bushes but efforts were being made to rescue them.

Attempts to reach out to DSP Nafi’u Abubakar, the Police Public Relations Officer, Kebbi Command, were unsuccessful.

Mass abduction has been a trend in Nigeria, with hundreds of victims kidnapped by terrorists in different states across Northern Nigeria.

The attack came one week after terrorists stormed Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, located in Zaria, Northwest Nigeria, and abducted eight students and staff of the school.

On Sunday, May 30, terrorists kidnapped 156 students of Salihu Tanko Islamic school in Niger State, North-central Nigeria, barely three months after the infamous mass abduction of the Kagara schoolboys.

On Dec. 19, 2020, a terrorist group abducted more than 80 Islamic school students in Katsina State, Northwest Nigeria. The pupils were later rescued by security forces after a gun battle with the terrorists.

Kidnapping for ransom is now notorious in Nigeria, with schools becoming the biggest target in recent times. More than 700 students were kidnapped between Dec. 2020 and May 2021.

Some analysts have speculated that terrorists are using kidnappings to fund their activities.

Security experts have also warned that the abduction of schoolchildren would have devastating consequences for education in Northern Nigeria amidst high numbers of out-of-school children. 

“The government must provide adequate physical security arrangements, including the three-step model under the Safe Schools Initiative and the safe schools’ declaration (school environment, residents of the school environment, and the community hosting the school,” security analyst Kabir Adamu said.