Kill one student in kidnapping operation
Poly students give state govt seven days to rescue abductees
A young pregnant woman was among the 10 students and lecturers abducted by bandits from Kaduna State owned Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic Zaria on Thursday night.
A student of the school was also confirmed killed while another one was injured during the kidnapping operation that saw the invaders making away with 10 students and two lecturers of the school.
The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed the incident yesterday, said the killing and abductions occurred late on Thursday night.
A lady who goes by the name Radeeyah Beentu Musah revealed on her Facebook page the identity of the pregnant abductee as Fatima Muhammad, who she said was kidnapped with another course mate identified as Hauwa.
Musah said: “One of my course mates that were kidnapped @nuhubamalli polytechnic, Zaria, she is pregnant, please pray for her.
“Please pray 4 them, 2 of my course mates have been kidnapped, Hauwa and Fatima, ya Allah karesu.
Aruwan told reporters yesterday that the Kaduna State Government had been briefed by security agencies of an attack by armed bandits at the main campus of Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic.
He said: “According to the briefing, the bandits invaded the staff quarters of the campus, shooting sporadically.
“In the process, two students were hit and they sustained gunshot injuries. They were identified as Ahmad Muhammad and Haruna Isyaku Duniya.
“They were rushed to the hospital for medical attention. Sadly, Ahmad Muhammad succumbed to his wounds and died early this morning. Haruna Isyaku Duniya is still receiving treatment.
“Two lecturers and about eight students were abducted from the institution during the attack.
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai received the briefing with sadness and prayed for the repose of the soul of the student killed while sending condolences to his family.
“He wished the injured student speedy recovery.
“As at the time of this update, senior government officials and security agencies are conducting security assessments and interfacing with the management and students of the institution.
“The public will be updated on further developments,” Aruwan said.
It was the second attack on the polytechnic in 16 months.
Bandits had also kidnapped students of Greenfield University and Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in the state in the recent past.
School suspends academic activities
The management of the polytechnic yesterday announced indefinite suspension of academic activities following the attack on it by suspected bandits.
The Information and Protocol Officer of the institution, Mallam Mahmud Kwarbai, announced the suspension in a statement.
Kwarbai said the attack had created serious tension among the students, hence the indefinite suspension of academic activities.
The Information Officer added that students had been directed to vacate the school immediately.
He, however, said that IJMB students were excluded as their external examination conducted by Ahmadu Bello University would commence on June 15.
Kidnap of students in another Kaduna school foiled
Hours after bandits killed a student and kidnapped eight others and two lecturers at Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic in Zaria, security agencies were reported to have foiled the abduction of students at Prelude Comprehensive College in Kujama area of Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed the attempted abduction in the private secondary school, said the bandits resorted to kidnapping other citizens on the Kaduna-Kachia Road.
According to the Commissioner, “Security reported to the Kaduna State Government that a planned abduction by armed bandits at a school (Prelude Comprehensive College) in Kujama area of Chikun LGA has been foiled.
“This followed receipt of credible intelligence, which prompted troops and police operatives to mobilise to the targeted school to thwart the approaching bandits.
“The bandits were alerted of the presence of security operatives and abandoned their plans to attack the school, diverting at the last minute to the Kaduna-Kachia Road between Kafari and Tashan Ice.
“At this location, they barricaded the road and abducted two citizens, Yusuf Alhassan and Nura Abdullahi. They abducted duo was later rescued after troops and police heard gunshots and gave the bandits a hot chase.
“Sadly, three travelers were shot and injured by the bandits. They are: Isa Ahmadu, Saidu Sani, Abubakar Ibrahim. The injured persons were taken to St. Gerald Catholic Hospital for medical attention.
“In another development, troops foiled an attack along the Zaria-Kano Road in Makarfi Local Government Area.
“The personnel mobilised to the area following distress calls of bandit activity. One bandit dressed in military camouflage was neutralised and one pump action gun was recovered.
“Receiving the reports, Governor Nasir El-Rufai commended the troops and police operatives for decisive action in averting the planned abduction in Chikun LGA, for repelling the bandits at the secondary target and rescuing two citizens. He also praised the troops for foiling the attack along the Zaria-Kano Road.
“The governor wished the injured citizens a speedy recovery,” Aruwan said.
Poly students give Kaduna govt seven-day ultimatum to rescue abductees
Reacting to the attack yesterday, the leadership of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) gave the Kaduna State Government a seven-day ultimatum to secure the release of the staff and students, saying that failure to do so could see the government incur the wrath of polytechnic students.
In a joint communique signed by Asuku Sunday and Olalere Benedict (NAPS), the students said attacks on educational institutions was becoming unbearable, saying that the trend must be halted by all means.
Their position was corroborated by ex-NAPS President Salahudeen Lukman, who decried a situation where students are used as baits for ransom collection, stressing that the government needs to rise up to its primary responsibility of protecting the lives and property of its citizens.
The communiqué reads: “After extensive deliberation and robust review of the state of NAPS, both present and past, including the state of the polytechnic sector generally, the following resolution were reached:
“We are worried and dissatisfied over incessant kidnapping of students, especially polytechnic and monotechnics campuses nationwide. We condemn the attack on Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria by bandit who abducted yet to be ascertained number of students and staff over the night.
“We call on government at all levels to intensify efforts in securing our campuses nationwide. The government of Kaduna State is hereby given 7 days ultimatum to secure the release of our students in the hands of bandits.”
On the recent suspension of the 65-day industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the students urged government to be more accountable by honouring existing agreements so as to create stability in tertiary institutions.
NAPS also asked President Muhammadu Buhari to speedily assent to the HND/BSc dichotomy prohibition bill recently passed by the Senate once transmitted to the Presidency.
According to the student body, the House of Representatives should take a cue from the Senate to also pass the bill so as to put a stop to long drawn dichotomy between HND and BSc degree holders.
