Kaduna State Government has confirmed the attack on Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Igabi Local Government Area of the state by bandits, saying that 30 students, most of them females, were abducted.
The bandits, it was learnt stormed the College, located opposite Premier Military University, the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna around 11:30 pm on Thursday.
Following the incident, parents trooped to the college in search of their children Friday morning.
Confirming the incident at the college gate, the state Commissioner for Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan said that troops of the Nigerian Army from 1 Division prevented the bandits from taking so many students as they were able to rescue 180 of them.
Noting that 30 students could not be accounted for after the incident, he said, “Troops of the Nigerian Army in the early hours of today, Friday, 12th March 2021 rescued 180 citizens, many of them students, at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Igabi local government area of Kaduna State.
“The armed bandits in large number had attacked the institution at around 11:30 pm on Thursday and kidnapped several students and staff.
“The armed bandits broke into the institution by breaching a perimeter fence. They then encroached about 600 meters to attack the first facility.
“The Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs on receiving a distress call alerted the 1 Division Nigerian Army and the Air Training Command of the Nigerian Air Force.
“Troops of the Nigerian Army immediately moved to the school and engaged the armed bandits accordingly.
“The troops successfully rescued 180 citizens; 42 female students, eight staff and 130 male students. However, about 30 students, a mix of males and females, are yet to be accounted for.
“Some of the rescued students were injured and presently receiving medical attention at a military facility.”