Home / Lead Story / Zamfara: Police confirm 317 female students missing; UNICEF condemns abduction 

Zamfara: Police confirm 317 female students missing; UNICEF condemns abduction 

Bello Matawale, Governor of Zamfara State

By Abubakar Ahmed (Jangebe)/Zubairu Idris (Katsina), Feb. 26, 2021

The Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, Abutu Yaro, has confirmed the abduction of 317 female students of the Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe on Friday.

Yaro made this known on Friday while speaking with journalists on Friday in Jangebe, Talata-Mafara Local Government Area of the state.

He expressed dismay with members of the affected community who resorted to taking laws into their hands by attacking vehicles, including those on rescue mission and journalists and appealed for calm.

“People must understand that the government and security agents are on their side and against the bandits. That is why it is very important for them to see the need to allow security agents do their work effectively and rescue the victims.

“We are doing our best along with all sister security agencies, members of the vigilantè group and the state government to get to the bottom of this matter.

“l can assure you that we will rescue all the students unhurt,” he said.

Some residents who spoke with journalists said that the bandits came in their hundreds riding on motorcycles and shooting in the air before entering the school around 2 a.m on Friday.

A staff of the school, who spoke with NAN on condition of anonymity, said that 60 of the girls were safe as some of them hid from the attackers during the invasion.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern over the attack.
This is contained in a statement issued by the UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Mr Peter Hawkins, through the UNICEF Communications Specialist, Mr Sam Kaalu, and made available to newsmen on Friday in Katsina.
“We are angered and saddened by yet another brutal attack on schoolchildren in Nigeria.
“This is a gross violation of children’s rights and a horrific experience for children to go through, which will have long lasting effects on their mental health and well-being.
“We utterly condemn the attack and call on those responsible to release the girls immediately, and for the government to take steps to ensure their safe release and the safety of all other schoolchildren in Nigeria,” he said.
Hawkins said that children should feel safe at home and at school, at all times.
“UNICEF acknowledges efforts being made by the Government of Nigeria to secure the release of kidnapped schoolchildren and calls on the government and all concerned to make schools safe in Nigeria,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that UNICEF is working to reach the most disadvantaged children in more than 190 countries.

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