The Nigerian Army averted another tragedy as it foiled bandits attempt to abduct students at Government Science Secondary school in the Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in the state told journalists on Sunday that bandits invaded the school on Saturday night but the timely arrival of soldiers who engaged the criminals in a gun duel saved the day. 

Recounting the event, the commissioner said: “Between the late hours of Saturday night and early hours of today (Sunday), suspected bandits stormed the Government Science Secondary School Ikara in Ikara Local Government Area in an attempt to kidnap students.”

“The security forces comprising the troops of the Nigerian Army, police and some security volunteers moved swiftly to the school and engaged the bandits forcing them to flee. The military and the police are still on the trail of the armed bandits.”

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Commissioner Aruwan also revealed that troops of the Nigerian Airforce foiled a similar attack by bandits at the Kaduna International airport senior staff quarters around Ifira village in the Igabi local government area.

Recall that the Nigerian Army on Friday foiled bandits attempts to kidnap students of the Turkish International Secondary School in the Rigachikun area of Kaduna State.

While securing the school children, the Army received another distress call that received that bandits had stormed the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Afaka, according to a statement released by Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, the Director of Army Public Relations.

Eons Intelligence reported that the military engaged the bandits and rescued 172 students and 8 members of staff of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, while 39 students which include 23 females and 16 males were whisked away.

READ ALSO: ZAMFARA SCHOOLGIRLS ABDUCTION: PRESIDENT BUHARI WARNS THAT HIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD NOT SUCCUMB TO BLACKMAIL TACTICS FROM BANDITS

As the manhunt for the bandits continues, a video capturing the abducted students pleading for help as their captors flog them was released on Saturday. The bandits are demanding N500 million ransom.

Read Also: VIDEO OF BANDITS WITH RPG: PROOF THAT NEGOTIATING WITH CRIMINALS PUTS THE COUNTRY AT GREAT RISK

MASS SCHOOL ABDUCTION TIMELINE IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS  

Nigeria has witnessed four mass school abductions in the last four months and so far, no arrest has been reported. 

In December more than 300 students were abducted from their dorm in the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State. 

On February 26, 2021, about 317 female students of the Government Secondary School, Jangebe in Zamfara state were abducted. 279 students were released in March although the police had earlier said 317 girls were kidnapped.

On February 17, 27 students and 15 members of staff of Government Science College, Kagara, Niger state were abducted by bandits. While 39 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in the Mando Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State are yet to be rescued from captivity.