Bandits attack Zamfara varsity, abduct students

Bandits have attacked the Federal University of Gusau (FUG) Zamfara state and abducted an unspecified number of students.

The bandits were said to have attacked three hostels of the school around 3 am on Friday. Reports say about 24 students were abducted.

Sources said the bandits split themselves into two groups — the first group went away with the abductees, while the second group was said to have engaged troops who were trying to repel the attack, in a gun duel.

Another source said the troops later pursued the bandits, killing five of them and forcing them to abandon some of the abducted victims.

Yazid Abubakar, Zamfara police spokesperson, confirmed the incident to TheCable. He said a search and rescue operation is ongoing.

“At the moment, a search and rescue joint operation of police and the army is ongoing to rescue the abducted students. Our men are still not back,” Abubakar said.

“As I am speaking to you now, I can hear the sound of a plane going round on surveillance.”

In August, bandits abducted eight graduates travelling from Akwa Ibom to Sokoto for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp on the outskirts of Zamfara.

In June, students of the university blocked the Gusau-Kaduna road to protest the abduction of five students.

Also in June, bandits abducted five students of the College of Health Science and Technology in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara state.