By Gabriel Atumeyi
365Daily– The Kaduna State Police has confirmed the abduction of several students by bandits at Bethel Baptist Secondary School, Kujuma, Chikun Local Government Area of the State.
365Daily had earlier reported that an unknown number of students were kidnapped from Bethel Baptist High School, a private boarding college on Kaduna-Kachia Road when armed men attacked the school at the early hours of Monday, Juky 5, 2021.
However, the Kaduna Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Muhammadu Jalige, said in a statement that a joint task force comprising Police, Army and Navy scrambled into action and immediately gave the kidnappers a chase, resulting in the rescue of 26 students and a female teacher.
According to Jalige, the command is yet to ascertain the number of students abducted as the operation to rescue the remaining students was still ongoing.
He called on parents and guardians not to be discouraged by the menace ravaging the state as the Police, in collaboration with other security agencies, have taken strategic measures to prevent a recurrence.
“In the early hours of today, Monday 5th July, 2021, at about 0143hrs the Command received a report that armed bandits in large number had gained access into Bethel Baptist Secondary School Kujuma in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State.
“They shot berserkly, overpowered the school’s security guards and made their way into the students hostel where they abducted an unspecified number of students into the forest.
“On the receipt of the unfortunate incident, a joint team of the Nigeria Police, Army and Navy Operatives were immediately mobilised to the area with a mission to rescue the abducted students unhurt.
“The Operatives gave the bandits a hot pursuit occasioned by a tactical application of weapons and succeeded in rescuing twenty six (26) students including a female teacher safely.
“However, the rescue Operation is still ongoing to ensure that all victims are safely returned. Officers involved in the said operation are charged to ensure no stone is left unturned with a view to successfully accomplish the rescue mission since resources will be availed them without delay.
“The Command is therefore encouraging parents not to be deterred by the recent bandits’ activities in the state targeting schools and learning institutions as strategic measures will be emplaced to forestall further occurrence of such dastardly act of criminality against innocent children.
‘The Command is saddened by the incident and call on all stakeholders on security to unite particularly at this very critical time to safeguard schools in order to guarantee a safe and secured learning environment and other meaningful businesses.”