Nigerian security forces and local vigilantes have rescued 84 students of an Islamiyya school earlier abducted in Mahuta town, Dandume Local government area of Katsina State.
The students of Makarantan Islamiyya school were abducted on Saturday on their return home after attending a maulud procession at Unguwar Al-Kasim, Katsina Post reported.
Katsina State Police spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, confirmed the rescue in a statement.
Security expert, Deji Adesogan stated in a Twitter thread on Sunday morning that the troops in collaboration with local vigilantes rescued the students.
Many of the students were said to have earlier escaped after their abductors became disoriented when they sighted reinforcements of security forces.
Read Also: Fani-Kayode faults Buhari for addressing freed Kankara boys in Hausa
Adesogan wrote, “Early hours of today (Sunday), security forces & local vigilantes have reportedly rescued the remaining kidnapped students of Makarantan Islamiyya school in Dandume LGA of Katsina State. Majority escaped as bandits sight reinforcement of security forces. #SecureNorth.”
He advised the Katsina State Government to “shutdown all Islamiyya/Quranic Schools with immediate effect”.
According to him, an enforcement team should be constituted to monitor compliance by the locals
He said that the Aminu Masari-led Katsina state government “must interface with village heads and religious leaders on the need to adhere with the order to avert kidnappings for now”.
Recall that 344 students of the Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), Kankara, also in Katsina, were abducted on December 11 and freed on December 17.