By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

Both the Government of Kaduna State and the Kaduna State Police Command have thrown light on the circumstances surrounding Wednesday evening’s attack by bandits on the Greenfield University, situated at Kasarami, off the Kaduna – Abuja Road in Chikun Local Government Area.

Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs,

Said in a statement that after his ministry received distress calls of an attack by armed bandits, troops of Operation Thunder Strike (OPTS) and other operatives swiftly moved to the location and the armed bandits retreated.

“After search-and-rescue operations, a staff member of the university, Paul Ude Okafor, was confirmed to have been killed by the armed bandits, while a number of students were kidnapped.

“The security operatives took custody of the remaining students who have been handed over to the institution, as at noon today, Wednesday 21st April 2021.

“The actual number of students kidnapped is still being sought from the institution’s records.

“Troops and other security operatives are working in the general area, and the public will be informed of further developments,” he stated.

On is part, Spokesperson of Police Kaduna State Command, ASP Mohammed Jalinge, told News Express: “The incident occurred around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday night.

“One of the staff of the university was shot dead, but the number of students abducted is not yet ascertained. We will know the exact number later in the day and get back to you.

“We have visited the scene and have deployed conventional, mobile police and operation Puff adder 1 and 2 as well as the IGP Intelligence Response Team.”

Villagers said the gunmen stormed the community shooting sporadically advancing towards the university, which started operation in 2019.

Joshua Daniel, father of one of the students, said his child called to inform him that there was an ongoing exchange of guns around the school premises.

“I think they kidnapped up to 20 students and killed one of the staff of the university,” he said.

News Express reports that 39 students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna, were abducted on March 11, 2021, out of which 10 were recently confirmed to have regained their freedom after over 30 days in captivity. The rest remain in the custody of the bandits.