14 Islamic school students abducted in Niger State
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Daily Post and Punch
Fourteen students from an Islamic school were abducted by suspected gunmen while harvesting maize on a farm in Tungan-Bako, Niger State, according to Daily Post and Punch. Police confirmed the figure was 14, not 50, and said a rescue operation was under way, according to Punch. Punch also reports that the teacher was reportedly abducted.
Wasiu Abiodun, spokesman for the Niger State police, confirmed on Monday that 14 students had been abducted, not 50 as some reports had stated, according to Punch. He said suspected gunmen attacked the farm at about 12.30 pm on 31 October in the village of Tungan-Bako, while the students were helping their teacher harvest maize. Punch reports that the teacher was also reportedly abducted.
A joint operation by security forces was under way to find the abducted people, Abiodun said, according to Punch. The spokesman assured that the students would be rescued.
Jonathan Vatsa, spokesman for the Social Democratic Party’s candidate for governor, criticised Governor Mohammed Bago’s handling of security. He accused him of focusing on election campaigning rather than protecting residents and said security forces lacked operational vehicles and equipment. Vatsa also accused the government of limiting itself to condemning attacks or offering condolences, according to Punch.
