Policeman killed, 80 students abducted in Nigeria school attack

The violent attack took place on the Federal Government College of Birnin Yauri on Thursday.

A teacher at the school stated that the gunmen took more than 80 students, mostly girls.

He further added that the attackers broke through the gate and went straight to the students’ classes, killing a police officer.

A local resident who went to the school shortly after the gunfire stopped stated that he witnessed the scene of panic and confusion as people were searching their children.

“When we got there, we saw students crying, teachers crying, everyone is sympathising with people,” he stressed.

Authorities stated that the officer had been shot dead during the exchange of fire between the police and the gang.

In addition, a student had also been shot and receiving medical treatment for the time being.

Security forces were searching a nearby forest for the abducted students and teachers.

Heavily armed criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, have long targeted central and northwestern states, raiding villages, stealing cattle and kidnapping for ransom.

These groups have increasingly targeted schools, kidnaping students and herding them into forest hideouts to negotiate ransom payments.

It is pertinent to mention that it is the third assault by armed gangs on a school or college in Nigeria in less than a month. More than 700 children and students have already been kidnapped by these gangs since December.

In May, the criminal gang seized 136 children from an Islamic seminary in central Nigeria’s Niger state.

Notably, the armed raids have taken place in the northwestern region.