By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

Over 200 combination of primary school pupils and secondary school students and a teacher of the junior secondary school Abubakar Isah were abducted around 8:25am today Thursday, March 7th, 2024, by bandits who stormed LGEA Primary School, Kuriga (1), Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Part of the secondary school was relocated to the primary school due to insecurity.

A student named Rabilu Ahmed who earlier escaped with gun shot wounds and was rushed to General Hospital Birnin Gwari, has been reported dead.

Jibril Gwadabe Kuriga, a journalist with Radio Nigeria Kaduna and cousine to Rabilu Ahmed, confirmed to Reuters that Rabilu died while receiving treatment at the hospital.

Kuriga said: " The bandits stormed the school around 8:25am after the schools morning assembly gathering and abducted over 200 combined pupils and students and a teacher of the junior secondary school section of the school.

"There was no presence of security in Kuriga for a long time. Even the police station in the area has been closed for a long time.

"Parents of the abducted pupils and students are in and residency of the village currently in a state of pandemonium.

"Many families are seen fleeing the town for fear of the bandits return.

"I have contacted the overseeing Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs Samuel Aruwan and the police to alerted them immediately the incident happened.

"I am currently speaking with you from Buruku because there is no network in Kuriga where the incident happened."

A former Kaduna senator, Shehu Sani, expressed displeasure on the incident, expressing optimism that they would be free.

‘’It’s tragic to hear that 232 students have just been kidnapped in Kuriga village, Chikun LG in Kaduna State.

“It’s the same village where a school principal, Idris Sufyan was killed and his wife kidnapped over a month ago. However, I’m optimistic their freedom will be secured,’’ he said.

The junior and secondary schools relocated to the school building inside the Kuriga town a few years ago due to insecurity concerns, abandoning their former school building located outside the town.

A resident, Shittu, confirmed the incident, saying most of the pupils ran out of their classes when they sighted the bandits on the school premises.

Another resident, Lawal Kuriga, also said that the abducted victims were marched into the forest.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official reaction from the state government or the police.

Aruwan, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs is yet to respond to calls and messages sent to his mobile number.

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