How Islamiya students were abducted in Niger

The Niger State Police Command on Sunday evening confirmed the abduction of school children and some residents of Tegina, Rafi Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Adamu Usman said in Minna that the children were abducted from Salihu Tanko Islamiya School.

He also confirmed that the abductors killed one person in the process.

Usman explained that the incident occurred at about 3pm when a large number of bandits on motorcycles attacked the town.

He said that the command had deployed a tactical squad supported by operatives of Operation Puff Adder 2, to track the abductors and rescue the victims.

The police commissioner urged members of the general public to support security agencies with reliable information to ensure the safe rescue of the children.

Although Usman did not give the actual number of abducted students, Mary Noel-Berje, Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, said they were about 200.

“We are still waiting for more information but as it is now, it has been confirmed that there was an attack.

“I wouldn’t know (the number kidnapped) but I was told about 200, six of them who could not continue with the trekking were killed in the bush.”