KANO, Feb 26 — Several hundreds girls are missing after a raid by suspected armed bandits on a school hostel in Zamfara, north-west Nigeria, a teacher and parent told AFP today, in what would be the latest mass kidnapping in the troubled region.
Heavily-armed criminal gangs in north-west and central Nigeria have stepped up attacks in recent years, kidnapping for ransom, raping and pillaging.
“More than 300 girls are unaccounted for after a headcount of remaining students,” a teacher at the Government Girls Secondary School Jangebe who asked to remain anonymous.
A parent told AFP he had received a call about the incident.
“I’m on my way to Jangebe. I received a call that the school was invaded by bandits who took away schoolgirls. I have two daughters in the school,” said Sadi Kawaye.
Police have not yet confirmed the incident.
Last week, 42 people were taken by a gang from a school in nearby Niger state.
More than 300 boys were kidnapped from a school in December in Kankara, President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state of Katsina, while he was visiting the region.
The boys were later released after negotiations with government officials but the incident triggered global outrage. — AFP
