Mass Kidnapping At School, Hundreds Missing Including 300 Girls
INTERNATIONAL
NIGERIA: At least 300 girls have been kidnapped by suspected gunmen from a hostel in Zamfara state in northwest Nigeria, a teacher and parent said.
The incident is believed to be the last mass kidnapping in the troubled region. Heavily armed criminal gangs in northwest and central Nigeria have stepped up their attacks in recent years, kidnapping for ransom, raping and looting.
“More than 300 girls are missing after the count of the remaining students,” Sadi Kawaye said on Friday.
A spokesperson for the state governor confirmed the incident, but declined to say how many people were taken or to provide more details.
This is the second such kidnapping in just over a week in northern Nigeria, where an upsurge in armed militancy in the northwest has led to a widespread and worsening breach of security.
Last week, 42 people were taken by a gang from a school in nearby Niger state.
More than 300 boys were kidnapped from a school in December in Kankara, President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state of Katsina, while he was visiting the region.
The boys were later released after negotiations with government officials but the incident triggered global outrage.
Source: News Agencies