By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello on Wednesday confirmed the number of students, teachers and family members that were abducted by bandits from the Government Science College, Kagara in Rafi local government of the state in the early hours of today.
Governor Sani-Bello told journalists that 27 students, three teachers and 12 of their family members were abducted in the attack that reportedly occurred at about 2 am on Wednesday.
The government also disclosed that one student, Benjamin Doma, was shot dead by the bandits during the attack.
It was gathered that there were about 650 students in the school.
Meanwhile, the Governor declared that all boarding schools in Rafi, Mariga, Munya and Shiroro local government areas would be closed until further notice.
The Governor also confirmed the video making rounds in the state of bandits celebrating abduction of passengers of the NSTA bus attacked on Sunday where they demanded N500 million.
Bello said the government will not pay ransom, stressing the bandits would use the money to buy sophisticated weapons and cause further harm.
“It is not in our policy as a government to pay ransom to bandits because we have noticed that they use this money to buy arms and ammunition.
“However, the government will be ready to support and assist repentant bandits,” the Governor said.
He said the government is concerned over the recent bandit attacks in the state, which he admitted have become more brazen and daring.
He asked for immediate intervention from the Federal Government to rescue the students and other abducted persons from the hands of the bandits.
“We are deeply concerned at this recent sad events and are asking the federal government to deploy every necessary resources while we will look at all options, both kinetic and non kinetic to ensure the safe return of the victims of both incidences.
“We will not rest or sleep until we bring them back to their families.”
“Tension is high and the situation is very serious. We are saddened by all these development.
“We have been having attacks before and we have been working to settle it but in this past few days, the attacks have been so daring that it caught our attention. We pray that God will show us the way of getting them back safely,” he said.