Bandits abduct six students from Zamfara polytechnic

A wave of fear has gripped the community of Kaura Namoda in Nigeria's Zamfara State following the abduction of at least six students from the Federal Polytechnic. The incident, confirmed by the Chairman of the Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, Mannir Haidara, has prompted the deployment of security agencies to launch a rescue operation.

Residents report that the area has been under siege by armed attackers for some time. A local organization, the Concerned Citizens Group of Kaura Namoda, pointed fingers at a bandit faction led by a notorious kingpin, Kachalla Dansadiya, for the persistent attacks. This abduction is seen as the latest in a terrifying pattern of violence that has plagued the community.

“

“Allowing these criminals to attack, kidnap, and return to their base unchallenged is an affront to our national security.

The group's statement detailed previous incidents, including the two-month captivity of two senior polytechnic lecturers despite ransom payments, and the ongoing detention of another resident abducted from a housing area. In a particularly brazen attack, an 80-year-old district head was abducted from his home, which is adjacent to a military base.

Concerns are mounting over the perceived lack of decisive military intervention. The Concerned Citizens Group cited the recent kidnapping of two wives and five family members of a senior paramilitary officer, which occurred despite urgent calls to security forces. The group lamented that these victims are still held in a known bandit camp without rescue operations, questioning the effectiveness of the deployed military assets. The unchecked movement of bandits between the town and their hideouts, the group warned, severely undermines national security credibility.

“

“We are urgently calling on the Ministry of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the SSS, and all relevant authorities to come to our rescue.