Caterer, Kids Missing as Bandits Storm Zamfara School, …Police Deny Abduction of Teachers, Students

Malik Yahya/

Four persons were found missing last night after some bandits reportedly stormed Government Girls Secondary School, Moriki, in Zurü local government area of Zamfara State.

Allaying fears of abduction of some teachers and students today, the police in Zamfara identified the missing persons as a caterer and her three children.

BBC Hausa reports that the bandits struck at the school yesterday night and opened fire immediately.

Earlier reports indicated that one man was killed as two teachers and four students were missing.

A resident was quoted as saying the gunmen were unable to get to where the students were sleeping.

The incident, according to the report, happened while residents were watching the UEFA Champions league match between Liverpool and Barcelona.

A statement issued by the police spokesman in Zamfara, SP Mohammed Shehu, today, says: “The Zamfara State police command wishes to confirm that on 1st May 2019 at about 2130hrs, DPO Zurmi received a distress call that unidentified number of armed men entered into Government Girls Secondary School, Moriki in Zurmi LGA through the back fence of the school with intent to attack the school and abduct students.

“On the spur of the moment, a combined team of PMF/CTU/ and Civilian JTF personnel headed by the DPO mobilised to the school, confronted the armed men and stopped them from gaining access to the students hostels, then they took a retreat back to the bush.

“No student was abducted as earlier reported by some media. However, two caterers and three of their children were later discovered missing. The Police is collaborating with the school authority to establish the whereabout of the missing persons. To this end, a search and rescue operation team has been dispatched to the surrounding bushes for an extensive bush combing. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the school and its environment to forestall further happening.

“The Commissioner of Police Zamfara State command uses this medium to call on members of the public to be very vigilant and report any suspicious character to the police for prompt response.”

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