Nigeria: Bandits free 70 students from captivity after two weeks, Governor confirms

Almost after two weeks, abductors finally freed at least 70 students who were kidnapped from Government Day Secondary School on September 1. According to a report by Associated Press (AP), announcement was me by Zamfara state Governor Bello Matawalle, who claimed that students were reunited with ir families late on Sunday.

report said that a series of incidents unfolded on September 1, Wednesday, when scores of heavily armed gunmen h attacked a school in norrn Nigeria and kidnapped 73 students.

However, police h rescued five of kidnapped students very next day. latest attack in a wave of school kidnappings in norrn Nigeria prompted government to shut down all primary and secondary schools in Zamfara state.
Zamfara governor said that students were rescued with help of some of gunmen who h repented ir disgraceful act. 

"Using some of bandits that repented, we were able to know where y were keeping se children. We worked closely with m for about 10 days and yesterday, at about 2 a.m., commissioner of police alongside ors took off to location where se children were rescued," Matawalle said.

Mass kidnapping of students in Nigeria is quite common

While speaking to news agency, Zamfara state police spokesman Mohammed Shehu denied sharing any details pertaining to rescue operation. Shehu reiterated that he has no details of operation as he was not in state, where authorities blocked telecommunications access.

It is worth noting that authorities invoked phone blackout and or measures including restriction of late-night movements and vehicular traffic, in order to target gunmen. After measures were introduced, Zamfara governor said last week that gunmen were begging for amnesty, which he declined.

"We have ensured that whatever God has directed us to do, we did. So, what we are doing now is to leave m to answer to God. What we are doing now is to fight with m day and night," he said.

At least 1,436 students were kidnapped in past years: UNICEF Report

According to report of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), country has witnessed 10 major abductions in past, in which at least 1,436 students have been taken. report said that at least 200 students are still held in captive and 16 children have died in attacks.

School kidnappings have taken place in nine different states, and target list includes everyone from preschoolers to university students. Earlier in July, armed kidnappers in Nigeria released 28 of 120 students who were abducted at beginning of July from Bel Baptist High School in norrn town of Damishi.

(With inputs from AP)

(Image: AP)