Police rescue 17 pupils in Lokoja private school
The Kogi State Police Command yesterday confirmed the rescue of 17 pupils abducted by gunmen from a private school in the outskirts of the state capital, Lokoja. The Command said
- Proprietor’s two wives among kidnap-victims
The Kogi State Police Command yesterday confirmed the rescue of 17 pupils abducted by gunmen from a private school in the outskirts of the state capital, Lokoja.
The Command said the gunmen invaded the school late Sunday night and abducted 26 persons, among whom were the two wives of the school proprietor. Mallam Mohammed Tanko Tajudeen.
The command’s spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police Saliu Afusat, said the incident occurred about 2345hours at Daarul Kitab School, an Islamic institution with an attached orphanage home, at Zariagi, Lokoja, an isolated area.
On receiving the report, she said, the Divisional Police Officer, ‘B’ Division Lokoja mobilised a team of security operatives, comprising the Police, Military, and other security agencies, proceeded to the scene, and mapped out strategies for rescue.
She said rescue was ongoing to secure the release of the remaining nine victims, who consisted of seven pupils and the two wives of the proprietor.
Saliu added: “The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, Naziru Bello Kankarofi, has visited the scene of the incident and ordered massive deployment of tactical teams to strengthen ongoing bush combing, intelligence gathering, and surveillance operations aimed at rescuing the remaining victims and apprehending the perpetrators.
“The command assures the public that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims. Members of the public are urged to remain calm and continue to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could aid the ongoing operation.
“The Command further encourages members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements or information that could assist ongoing operations through the Command’s Control Room numbers. All information will be treated with strict confidentiality.”
The state government has condemned the attack. It assured of its commitment to the safety of residents of the state .
Also, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, cautioned residents to be more security conscious and report suspicious movements to security agencies.
The statement added: “While assuring that efforts are being intensified to rescue the remaining victims and bring the perpetrators to justice, the government raised concerns over the operation of unregistered institutions in isolated locations.
“Reaffirming its stance, the Kogi State Government assured residents of its uncompromising commitment to the protection of lives and property, adding that security operations remain active to bring the situation under full control.”
