Zamfara governor summons emergency security meeting over abducted varsity students

• Mr. Idris explained that the meeting was prompted by the abduction of the students from their off-campus residence
  

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Following the recent abduction of an unspecified number of female students from the Federal University, Gusau, Gov. Dauda Lawal of Zamfara has called for an emergency security council meeting.

The governor’s media aide, Suleiman Idris, announced this in a statement released in Gusau and shared with journalists on Friday.

Mr. Idris explained that the meeting was prompted by the abduction of the students from their off-campus residence in Sabo Gida Village, Bungudu Local Government Area of the state.

He further stated that the purpose of the meeting is to ensure the immediate release of the students and find a sustainable solution to the ongoing security challenges that have been a cause of concern for the government.

“The governor has directed his Deputy, Mani Mallam Mummuni, to provide all the necessary support to the security agencies to restore normalcy in all the affected areas,” Mr Idris said.

According to him, during the meeting, the security chiefs assured the deputy governor of their commitment to restore peace in the state.

“They unequivocally confirmed to the deputy governor that troops had successfully rescued six of the victims.

“The security chiefs further assured him that troops had neutralised some of the kidnappers and were actively pursuing the others to ensure the safe rescue of all the victims.

“Mummuni urged the heads of the security agencies to improve troops’ presence in volatile areas for surveillance.

“He reassured the people of Zamfara that security operatives are working tirelessly to address the current security situation,” Mr Idris said.

On Friday, Capt. Ibrahim Yahaya, the Force information officer of Operation Hadarin-Daji, confirmed to journalists in Gusau that six of the abducted female students had been rescued.

Mr. Yahaya explained that the troops pursued the abductors into the forest, where they were hiding.

He mentioned that the troops engaged in a firefight with the abductors and received support from the air components of the Nigerian Air Force. As a result, six of the students were successfully rescued.

He added that several bandits were eliminated during the ongoing rescue operation.