TheCable

Abubakar Bello, governor of Niger state, says 27 students of Government Science College (GSC) Kagara were abducted.

Bello said this during a press conference shortly after an emergency meeting with heads of security agencies in Minna on Wednesday.

He also said three staff and 12 family members at the school were kidnapped.

On Wednesday, gunmen suspected to be bandits stormed the school, kidnapping several students, members of staff, and some members of their families.

Bello subsequently directed that all boarding schools in Shiroro, Rafi and Muyan be immediately closed until the situation improves.

“I call on all Nigerlites to condemn all forms of criminality in the state,” he said.

He also called on the federal government to deploy all necessary security resources to secure the state.

The governor maintained that the state government will not pay ransom to the kidnappers for the release of their victims.

“When you negotiate and pay ransom to criminals, they will use the money to purpose more weapons,” he said.

He, however, noted that they would readily support any bandit who was ready to surrender their arms.