AMINU DALHATU, KADUNA
Troops of the Nigerian Army in the early hours of Friday have rescued 180 citizens, many of them students, at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Igabi local government area of Kaduna State.
In a statement by the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs Samuel Aruwan says armed bandits in large number has attacked the institution at around 11:30pm on Thursday and kidnapped several students and staff.
It explains that the armed bandits broke into the institution by breaching a perimeter fence and then encroached about 600 meters to attack the first facility.
It adds that the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs on receiving a distress call, alerted the 1 Division Nigerian Army and the Air Training Command of the Nigerian Air Force.
The Statement says the troops immediately moved to the school, engaged the armed bandits accordingly and successfully rescued 180 citizens; 42 female students, eight staff and 130 male students.
It however, notes that about 30 students, a mix of males and females, are yet to be accounted for, while some of the rescued students sustained injuries and presently receiving medical attention at a military facility.
According to the Statement, receiving the report, Governor Nasir El-Rufai thanked the troops for their swift response and the rescue of the 180 citizens.
He also wished the injured students a speedy recovery.
Radio Nigeria reports that as at the time of this update, a combined team of Army, Air Force, Police and DSS troops are conducting an operation to track the missing students.