The Director, Education and Social Development of Zaria Local Government Council, Mrs Deborah Mugu; her deputy, Dalhatu Aliyu-Awai and 11 other staff have been abducted by gunmen at Kidandan, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Monday.
A security source informed Daily Trust that the victims were returning from a condolence visit on one of the staff of the LG who lost his father when gunmen intercepted them around 1:30pm.
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The source said Umar Abubakar (Katako), the driver of the 18-seater bus conveying the staff, had been released by the bandits and was asked to return home and inform relatives that other staff members had been abducted.
He said based on an eyewitness report, six bandits with AK47 waylaid the bus 45min after it left Kaya town. He said after searching and disposing of the passengers of valuables, the bandits directed them into a forest area.
He listed other victims as Sulaiman Zailani, Nura Abdullahi, Umar Shehu, Halima Tabari, Fatima Abdullahi and Hafsat Zakari.
Others are Maryam D, Hulaila Fate, Hajara Muhammad, Kuluwa Isa and Amina Sulaiman.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), Kaduna State Students Wing has said they will shut down Zaria if action is not taken to secure the release of the captives within seven days.
In a statement signed by the Kaduna State Coordinator, Jamilu Musa, the students said the federal and state governments have failed in providing public safety and security of lives and properties of Nigerians.
“We particularly note that among the kidnapped women of Zaria Local Government are several mothers of many of our fellow students in various institutions.
“While we feel the pain of the families, friends and relations of the kidnapped members of staff, we demand immediate action from the relevant authorities for their release, alive and safe and for the government to demonstrate more commitment to the protection of citizens’ lives and properties.”
