Residents in Jangebe in Talata-Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Northern Nigeria, on Friday, stormed the streets to protest the abduction of students of Government Girls Science Secondary School in the area.
This is as the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, Abutu Yaro, confirmed 317 female students were abducted from the school by bandits from their hostels on Friday.
Yaro, who spoke with journalists, expressed dismay with members of the affected community, who resorted to taking the law into their hands by attacking vehicles, including those on a rescue mission.
“People must understand that the government and security agents are on their side and against the bandits that is why it is very important for them to see the need to allow security agents do their work effectively and rescue the victims.
“We are doing our best along with all sister security agencies, members of the vigilantè group and the state government to get to the bottom of this matter.
“l can assure you that we will rescue all the students unhurt,” he said.
Some residents who spoke with journalists said that the bandits came in their hundreds riding on motorcycles and shooting in the air before entering the school around 2 a.m on Friday.
A staff of the school said that 60 of the girls were safe as some of them hid from the attackers during the invasion.
The protesting villagers took to the streets, destroying vehicles that were coming to the village.
The residents, women and children, used sticks and stones to attack vehicles, including two vehicles conveying journalists from various media houses, injuring a cameraman.
