A combined forces of security operatives comprising troops of the Nigerian Army, Police and some security volunteers, has foiled attempted kidnap of students of Government Science Secondary School Ikara in Kaduna state.
The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan who briefed newsmen on Sunday, said “between the late hours of Saturday night and the early hours of Sunday, suspected bandits stormed the Government Science Secondary School, Ikara, Ikara local government area, in an attempt to kidnap students.”
He explained that the students used the security alert system to intimate the security forces, who quickly moved in to save the students.
“Fortunately, the students utilized the security warning system in place, and were thus able to alert security forces in the area. The security forces comprising the troops of the Nigerian Army, Police and some security volunteers moved swiftly to the school and engaged the bandits, forcing them to flee.
“The military and police are still on the trail of the armed bandits,” Aruwan said adding that the 307 students were safe.
“Following a head count by the school management, the Kaduna State Government can confirm to you that all 307 students have been verified safe and present. The attempted kidnap was foiled completely and no student was taken from the school.
“The images provided by the Nigerian Army can attest to this, and will be shared with you.
“Similarly, around Ifira village in Igabi local government area, bandits attempted to attack a senior staff quarters around the Kaduna Airport general area. This attempt was also foiled as troops of the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Army engaged and repelled them, with several escaping with gunshot wounds,” he said.
The state government acknowledged the efforts of the security agencies in the recent rescue of 180 students in the vicinity of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka.
“These efforts have being mentioned in interviews given by some of the rescued students.
“By virtue of access to the facts of the event, the Kaduna state government extends its unequivocal solidarity to the Military, Police, Department of State Services and other security agencies, whose swift intervention prevented the bandits from abducting more persons.
“The Kaduna State Government maintains a clear focus at this time, and that is to ensure the safe return of the missing students, and to consolidate intelligence gathering and security vigilance towards forestalling possible attempts on other facilities or institutions.”
