Niger Orders Closure Of Boarding Schools In Security Affected Areas

 No fewer than 27 Students, three staff and 12 members of a family were abducted in the Wednesday morning attack on Government Science College, Kagara in Rafi local government of Niger state.

The Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello who spoke to newsmen in Minna said that the attack occurred at about 2am on Wednesday morning adding that one student, Benjamin Doma, was shot dead in the attack.

It was gathered that there were about 650 students in the school.

The Governor subsequently ordered that all boarding schools in Rafi, Mariga, Munya and Shiroro local government areas of the state be closed until further notice.

The Governor also confirmed the video making rounds in the state of the bandits celebrating the abduction of the passengers of the NSTA bus that was attacked on Sunday where they demand for N500 million.

Bello said that the government will not pay ransom to the bandits stressing that it is not the policy of government to pay ransom as the bandits 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.”

He said that the government is concerned over the recent bandit attacks in the state which have now 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 these recent sad events and 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