MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, June 4 - Police in Zamfara State reported that gunmen abducted at least seven students from a polytechnic after attacking an off-campus residence in the Low-Cost area of Kaura Namoda town in the early hours of June 3.
According to a statement from the Zamfara State Police Command, the assailants forced entry into a rented student accommodation at about 0400 GMT and removed the victims to an unknown location. The identity of the perpetrators was described as suspected bandits.
Security personnel, including joint police tactical teams and military units, were dispatched to the scene shortly after the incident. Police said the gunmen had departed the area before security forces arrived, prompting authorities to intensify search-and-rescue operations aimed at securing the students' safe release and apprehending those responsible.
The command's statement emphasized that efforts to locate the victims and detain suspects had been stepped up. No further details on the condition of the students, any demands by the abductors, or progress in the search operations were provided in the police communication.
Authorities noted that Zamfara State, along with other parts of northwest Nigeria, has been repeatedly affected by attacks carried out by heavily armed bandits. These groups frequently carry out kidnappings for ransom, target rural communities, and disrupt daily life, the police said.
Local officials have mobilized a combined security response following the abduction, while police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the raid on the student residence. The ongoing operations are focused on locating the missing students and preventing further attacks in the area.
The situation remains fluid as security forces pursue leads and conduct searches in the surrounding areas. Police have not released further operational details or a timeline for the completion of rescue efforts.
Context and immediate developments
- The attack took place at approximately 0400 GMT on June 3 at a rented off-campus residence in the Low-Cost area of Kaura Namoda town.
- Security forces were deployed after the incident but reported that the assailants had left before their arrival.
- Search-and-rescue operations have been intensified as authorities seek the students and those responsible for the abduction.