Zamfara closes all schools as police confirm abduction of 73 students

Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle has ordered the closure of all secondary and primary schools in the state till further notice.

This came as the state police command confirmed the abduction of 73 students from Government Day Secondary School, Kaya in the Maradun Local Government Area of the state by bandits.

Governor Matawalle has placed restrictions on the movement of vehicles into the 14 local government areas of the state from 6pm to 6am, while in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, it would be from 8pm to 6am.

The Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Elkana, who announced the closure of the schools and the restrictions on vehicles, said they were new measures to curtail the activities of bandits in the state, with immediate effect.

Elkana said the governor after due consultation with security agencies and critical stakeholders, directed the closure of all schools and placed restrictions on vehicular movement in the state’s 14 local government areas, including Gusau.

He urged the residents of the state to cooperate and remain law-abiding, as the state government and security agencies remained committed to eliminating bandits’ activities and restoring peace in the state.

Meanwhile, the state police command has confirmed that 73 students were abducted on Wednesday.

The police confirmation is contained in a statement issued by the command’s spokesman, Shehu Mohammed, on Wednesday.

It stated that the abduction followed the invasion of the school by a large number of armed bandits on Wednesday at 11.22am.

Part of the statement read, “The command under the leadership of CP Ayuba N Elkanah has deployed a search and rescue team that was mandated to work in synergy with the military to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students

“The CP further appealed to the general public especially parents and relatives of the abducted students to exercise patience and continue to pray for the success of the ongoing rescue operation.

“Security has also been beefed up at Kaya village and environs to forestall a further attack on the communities. “Further development will be made known to members of the public.”