Bandits ambush vehicle in Kaduna, abduct 10 students, other passengers

Suspected bandits have ambushed a vehicle along the Awon–Kachia road in Kachia, Kaduna state, abducting 10 students and several other passengers.

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The incident occurred on Sunday, April 26, when the attackers intercepted a vehicle conveying students returning to school after the weekend.

A source said the victims were travelling towards Kachia when the vehicle was attacked. According to the source, three students managed to escape and later recounted how the abduction took place.

The source added that one of the students, Purity Babangida, was feared dead after attempting to escape from the abductors.

Those abducted include Augustina Muntari (SS2), Government Secondary School (GSS) Gumel; Happy Muntari (JS2), GSS Gumel; Favour Tanimu (JS2), GSS Kachia; and Patience Joseph (JS2), GSS Kachia.

Others are Peace Irimiya and Bishara Irimiya, both of St John’s School, Kachia; Irimiya Galadima, the driver; Fatu Danladi; and Laraba Caleb.

The source described the incident as a setback for girls’ education in northern Nigeria.

“This unfortunate development is a big setback on the ongoing girls’ education campaign, especially in northern Nigeria where cultural beliefs and insecurity are now the order of the day,” the source said.

As of the time of filing this report, the abductors have yet to contact the victims’ families.

The Kaduna State Police Command and the Kaduna State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs have yet to issue an official statement on the incident.