Gunmen attacked an off-campus hostel housing students of the Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda in Zamfara State on Wednesday, June 3, abducting eight individuals despite the facility's proximity to a military checkpoint. The incident has heightened fears about escalating insecurity in northwestern Nigeria.
Details of the Attack
Residents of Kaura Namoda reported hearing gunfire in the early hours of Wednesday when the terrorists stormed the hostel located in the Low-cost area, just metres from a military checkpoint. Witnesses said the attackers fired shots into the air as they forced their way through the gate and fled with their captives.
According to local sources, including a resident named Musa, two of the students—Favour and Joshua Sunday—managed to escape while being taken away. The abducted students have been identified as Favour Allwell, Rejoice Allwell, Samuel Lekene, Joshua Sunday, Ezekiel Oluwatimilayo, and Precious Chioma. Musa added that Joshua Sunday later confirmed that six students—three men and three women—were taken.
Zamfara's History of School Abductions
Zamfara State has long been considered the epicentre of terrorist violence in northwestern Nigeria. Since 2015, attacks have claimed thousands of lives and displaced over a million people. Major school abductions in the state include the Jangebe abduction of over 300 schoolgirls, the abduction of 24 students from Federal University Gusau, and the kidnapping of 15 students from the College of Agriculture Bakura. The Kaura Namoda area, along with Maradun and Bungudu, is under the influence of notorious terrorist leader Bello Dan Sadiya.
Staff Relocate for Safety
An anonymous administrative staff member of the polytechnic revealed that several employees have relocated to Gusau, the state capital, due to security concerns. “Even me, I’ve relocated my family to Gusau. We have two staff, all senior lecturers, who are still with the bandits after they were abducted two months ago,” he said. Despite ransom payments, the lecturers remain in captivity.
Authorities Blame Informants
Police spokesperson DSP Yazid Abubakar confirmed the abduction and promised a statement, though none has yet been issued. Local authorities have blamed informants for worsening insecurity. Mannir Haidara Kaura, Chairman of the area, told DW Hausa that government efforts to tackle terrorism are being undermined by insiders.
The attack adds to a growing list of school abductions in Zamfara, a state long considered the epicentre of terrorist violence in northwestern Nigeria. The Department of State Services (DSS) recently arrested five individuals suspected of involvement in a similar attack on St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State, where over 300 students and teachers were abducted last year.
