The Nigerian Army says it has rescued 180 students and staff of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Kaduna.

It added that 30 people were still missing.

In a statement on Friday, Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, said, “The armed bandits broke into the institution by breaching a perimeter fence. They then encroached about 600 meters to attack the first facility.

“The Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs on receiving a distress call alerted the 1 Division Nigerian Army and the Air Training Command of the Nigerian Air Force.” 

The commissioner added, “The troops successfully rescued 180 citizens; 42 female students, eight staff, and 130 male students. However, about 30 students, a mix of males and females, are yet to be accounted for.”

Some of the injured students, according to Mr. Aruwan, are receiving treatment in a military facility.

The state government further disclosed that a combined team of security operatives comprising, army, air force, police, and SSS were conducting a rescue mission for the missing students at large.

Peoples Gazette reported Friday morning that bandits kidnapped an unspecified number of students in Kaduna.

The abduction occurred Thursday night at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Mando, BBC Hausa reported. The report cited a witness saying that the gun-wielding bandits invaded the campus around 11:30 pm and fired shots.

Despite the institution’s proximity to a military base and the Nigeria Defence Academy, the bandits succeeded in whisking away their victims with little or no resistance.

Muhammed Jalige, the police spokesman in Kaduna, had confirmed the abduction to the Gazette.

“Yes, it’s true. We are on top of the situation right now. We are yet to identify the specific number of students that were taken from the school,” Mr. Jalige said.