Nigerian troops on Friday, rescued 42 students and 138 others abducted by bandits in the Federal College of Forestry. Mechanization,Afaka in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
This is coming as parents and guardians of the school childrren gathered at the school gate unsure if their children and wards were party of the children rescued.
The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs Samuel Aruwan who confirmed the rescue in a statement said that bandits in large number attacked the school at about 11.30 pm on Thursday, and kidnapped several students and staff.
According to him, his Ministry on getting a distress call on the abduction informed the 1 Division, Nigeriian Army and the Air Training Command of the Nigerian Air force.
He said the “troops immediately moved to the school and engaged the armed bandits accordingly.
Aruwan stated that the troops successfully rescued 180 citizens,42 female students,8 staff and 130 male student
He however, said about 30 students ,a mix of males and females, were yet to be accounted for adding that some of the students were injured and currently receiving medical attention at a military facility.
Meanwhile, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has said that he had pre knowledge of the abduction as he was informed that it would occur in a private school close to the College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka.
Speaking with newsmen on Friday, El- Rufai thanked the troops for their swift response resulting in the rescue of the 180 victims but expressed sadness that about 30 were yet to be found.
One of the parents of the school childrren simply Ruth wondered when kidnapping will stop in the country.
She said governmentt was not doing enough to tackle the issue as the criminals instead of being caged daily unleash terror on innocent people including school childrren.
” We are not happy at all. Why should our children suffer for what they know nothing about.
” Why is governmentt not doing enough to arrest the criminals.? Are childrren of rich people going to school here? We don’t have anywhere to go with our children that’s why they go to school anytime they like and kidnap our children.
” Does government want our children to stay at home instead of going to school? They should tell us so that we know what to do. This is too much,” she said.
