Bandits Attack Federal Polytechnic, Abduct Seven Students In Zamfara
Suspected bandits have abducted seven students of Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, in Zamfara State after attacking an off-campus residence occupied by students in the Low-Cost area on the outskirts of Kaura Namoda town.
The attack, which has heightened concerns over insecurity in the area, prompted an immediate response from security agencies, with authorities saying efforts are underway to secure the release of the victims.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, Mannir Haidara Kaura, said security operatives had already launched a rescue mission.
“The incident occurred, and security operatives are currently carrying out rescue operations to ensure the safe return of the kidnapped students,” he stated.
However, one of the students of the institution, Ibrahim Ahmad, disclosed that one of the abducted students escaped shortly after the attack, leaving six students—three males and three females—still in the custody of the kidnappers.
The abduction has drawn reactions from residents and community groups, with the Concerned Citizens of Kaura Namoda raising fresh alarm over what it described as the deteriorating security situation in the locality.
In a statement, the group alleged that attacks in the area have continued unabated and linked the incidents to a notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Bello Dansadiya, and his associates.
The group recalled previous kidnapping cases, including the abduction of two senior lecturers who reportedly spent more than two months in captivity despite ransom payments. It also referenced the kidnapping of three residents and a district head from a residence located close to a military base.
“Alarmingly, all these victims are reportedly still being held in a well-known bandit camp around Dajin Yamma, yet no rescue operations have taken place. Where are the fighter jets and armoured vehicles?” the group queried.
The Zamfara State Police Command also confirmed the latest abduction, saying a coordinated operation involving multiple security agencies was ongoing to rescue the students.
Police spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the incident occurred at the students’ off-campus residence and reiterated that one of the victims had escaped while six others remained in captivity.
He stressed that the attack did not occur within the institution’s premises, noting that the school itself remains adequately protected.
“The school premises have been fortified with adequate security personnel, making it extremely difficult for bandits to penetrate,” Abubakar said.
Providing details of how the abduction occurred, the police spokesman explained that the attackers allegedly gained access to the residence after a student stepped outside during the night and inadvertently left the door open.
“One of the students went outside during the night, claiming he wanted to urinate. In the process, he left the door open. Coincidentally, bandits passing through the area entered the house and abducted the students,” he said.
Abubakar further disclosed that operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), working alongside troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, had intensified efforts to track down the kidnappers and secure the safe release of the students.
“Our VCRU personnel, together with troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, are working to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students,” he added.
The latest incident underscores the persistent security challenges facing parts of Zamfara State, where recurring cases of kidnapping and banditry continue to pose a threat to residents and educational institutions despite ongoing military and security operations.