One of the students abducted from the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State, has died in an exchange of gunfire between troops and bandits.
The Deputy Force Commander of the Joint Task Force in the North-West Zone, Air Commodore Abubakar AbdulKadir, confirmed this to reporters in Zamfara State on Friday.
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He said four students and a teacher were rescued during the operation.
“In the early hours of this morning, we came across the kidnappers. They came to our blocking point, and we engaged them,” Abdulkadir said.
“At that point, they abandoned five of the students and one of the teachers. Unfortunately, I think we have lost one of the students.”
AbdulKadir did not comment on whether the bandits or troops recorded casualties.
Meanwhile, the Police in Kebbi have said rescue operation is still ongoing for the missing students.
DSP Nafiu Abubakar, spokesperson of the Kebbi Police Command, announced this in a statement made available to newsmen.
“In view of the above, the command also wishes to make it clear and to make the record straight that yet to be ascertained of the students are still missing as the rescue operation is still ongoing.”
“The white Hilux Van with registration number KBSJ 29, belonging to a High Court Judge , with inscription of Kebbi State Judiciary, hijacked by the bandits along Birnin Yauri road, was the one used in perpetrating such a dastardly act.”
Bandits stormed the college around 12:30pm on Thursday and abducted many of the students.