Zamfara shuts schools as gunmen abduct students in fresh attack

Gunmen have abducted students from Government Day Secondary School in Kaya, Maradun LGA of Zamfara state.

The gunmen were said to have invaded the school around 11am on Wednesday, and taken the students to an unknown location.

The gunmen shot sporadically as they carried out the attack.

Following the attack, Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, is said to have ordered the closure of all schools in the state.

The governor has also imposed a 6pm to 6am curfew in 13 LGAs in the state, while in Gusau LGA, the curfew will take effect from 8pm to 6am.

Ayuba Elkana, Zamfara commissioner of police, while addressing journalists on Wednesday, announced the governor’s directive on the closure of schools.

The development is the latest in a series of attacks on communities across Zamfara, and the north-west region in general.

Prior to the Wednesday attack, two other schools in the state have been invaded by suspected bandits this year.

A total of 279 students were abducted from the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Jangebe during an attack in February — they were freed days after.

Six months later, gunmen kidnapped 19 students and teachers from the College of Agriculture and Animal Science in Bakura — they regained their freedom 11 days after.

In an effort to curb insecurity, the Zamfara government recently announced a temporary ban on the transportation of livestock beyond the state’s borders.

The governor has also ordered the closure of weekly markets across the state, while transportation of food items will be subject to verification.

According to the new directive by the governor, the sale of fuel has been restricted in some areas, while filling stations have been ordered not to sell fuel beyond N10,000 to a single customer.

Roadside purchases and sale of fuel in jerrycans have also been banned.