Jubilee Post News & Views
Special Desk
Over 300 girls have been kidnapped by gunmen, some of whom were dressed as security forces, from a school in Nigeria’s Zamfara state, officials confirmed.
The attack happened at 1:00 local time when a group of gunmen arrived at the Government Girls Secondary School in Jangebe town with pick-up vehicles and bikes, said an eyewitness. Some of the gunmen were dressed as government security forces, and forced the schoolgirls in the vehicles. Some others said the gunmen arrived on foot.
Security officers have reached the town of Jangebe where the incident was reported. This is the latest mass abduction targeting school kids in recent. Armed gangs often seize schoolchildren for ransom.
At least 42 people, including 27 students, who were kidnapped last week in Kagara, in neighbouring Niger state, are yet to be released.
The 2014 kidnap of 276 schoolgirls in the north-eastern town of Chibok by Islamist militants Boko Haram brought global attention to the scourge of raids on schools in Nigeria but the most recent attacks are suspected to be the work of criminal gangs.
“They broke the school gate and first shot at the security man. Then they moved into the hostels and woke up the girls, telling them it was time for prayers. After gathering all of them, the girls were crying and they took them away to the forest. They were also shooting in the air,” the witness said.
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A statement from the police said its officers and a military contingent have been deployed to Jangebe to search for the 317 abducted girls.
The UN children’s agency Unicef described it as ”brutal” and a ”violation of children’s rights.” No group has claimed responsibility and their identity is unknown.
