Abducted schoolgirls held in Dangulbi Forest

 Abducted schoolgirls held in Dangulbi Forest

By Modupe Shodeinde

More than three hundred (300) school girls abducted from Government Girls Junior Secondary School Jangebe, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State are reportedly kept in the Dangulbi Forest.

Recall that gunmen around 1am on Friday, had stormed the school and kidnapped students between 12-16 years old from their hostels.

The police had said 317 students were kidnapped while the state government commissioner of information, Alhaji Suliamon Tunau Anka had said the exact number of students abducted was still unknown.

Daily Trust, however reports that a school teacher who chose to remain anonymous said out of the 600 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, only about 50 were left behind.

It was also gathered that security personnel and officials of the Zamfara State Government now know the identity of the abductors and that the window of engagement was being opened to discuss with the armed bandits.

Daily Trust quoted a source who said  “The schoolgirls are being held at Dangulbi Forest in Maru Local Government Area,”

According to the Zamfara State government, security operatives have launched a manhunt for the criminals.

The forests between Dangulbi and Maru are known enclave of bandits who for years have been terrorising residents of neighbouring villages.

On Friday in a state-wide broadcast, the State Governor, Bello Matawalle, had ordered the closure of all boarding schools in the state.

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Matawalle said his heart is with the families of those affected by the abduction.

“My dear good people of Zamfara State, this is not a moment to trade blame. The recent twist in the spate of banditry brings to the fore the need for the adoption of a uniform strategy across all the affected states.

“I appeal to the people of the state to remain calm and resist the evil machinations of those who would want to exploit the current situation to achieve political ends.

Insha Allah, with our collective resolve, we would emerge out of this situation stronger,” he said

The abduction in Zamfara comes less than two weeks after bandits abducted students and staff members from Government Science College, Kagara in Niger state.

The Niger students, who were kidnapped on February 17, are yet to be released.

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