Armed Men Kidnap Dozens from University in Nigeria, Including Students

The spokesperson for the governor of Zamfara State, Mujira Yusuf, indicated today, Friday, that "armed men kidnapped 35 students and staff from a university in northwestern Nigeria, marking the first major kidnapping of students this year." He stated, "The kidnappers took 24 students, ten staff members, and a security guard in the early hours of today from the Federal University of Gusau." A security source reported that "soldiers rescued six female students and killed five of the kidnappers in a shootout." He added, "A joint security operation by the army and police is underway to free those still held captive." Armed gangs have spread across northwestern Nigeria in recent years, carrying out kidnappings for ransom, looting and destroying local communities, and killing civilians. Efforts by security forces to halt the activities of these gangs have met with little success.