By Ayodele Oni
An early morning invasion of a University community in Zamfara State on Friday by suspected bandits has led to abduction of more than 24 students.
The bandits reportedly struck at the Federal University of Gusau, Sabon-Gida community of the Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Report monitored on Channels Television indicated that those whisked away during the invasion are mostly ladies.
It quoted a resident of Sabon-Gida identified as Nazeer Sabon-Gida as saying that the gunmen invaded the community around 3 am and started shooting indiscriminately.
According to him, three students’ hostels were attacked and all the students in the hostels were taken away by the bandits.
“They entered the town around 3 am and started shooting indiscriminately.
“We have yet to confirm the number of students kidnapped because the bandits entered three hostels and kidnapped all the students there. It is difficult to ascertain their numbers now.”
Another source said that the bandits were engaged with troops of the Nigerian Army in a fierce gun battle but that did not stop the bandits from escaping with the kidnapped victims.
“They were seriously engaged with the army troops but the way these bandits operate, they will divide themselves into two, one group will move with the kidnapped victims while the other will stay behind to protect the first group.
“The first group had left with the students while the second group engaged the army in a gun duel.”
In June, some students of the university protested the spate of abductions involving their schoolmates in Sabon-Gida and Damba.
Sabon-Gida village is a community opposite the main campus of the Federal University of Gusau that is about 20 km to the state capital, Gusau.
