Nigerian police rescue 21 kidnapped children

Lagos, January 2 (IANS): Nigerian police say they rescued 21 children kidnapped by bandits in northwestern Zamfara state.

Speaking at a press briefing in Gusau, the state capital, Mohammed Shehu, the police spokesperson in Zamfara, said police received a distress call on Friday evening, informing bandits had blocked a highway near the village of Kucheri, abducting an unknown number of five-vehicle commuters, reports the Xinhua News Agency.

Shehu said police officers were immediately dispatched to the area and engaged the bandits in a violent shootout and rescued 21 children who were on their way to their school in neighboring Katsina state when the attack began. produced.

An unknown number of victims, including the children’s teacher and the driver of the bus they used, are currently being held by the bandits, the spokesperson added.

He said police sent reinforcements to complement the efforts of the Joint Security Operation currently working to rescue the remaining victims and apprehend the attackers.

The police spokesperson called on local residents to support the police and other security agencies with credible information about the hideouts, movements and other activities of the bandits.

There have been a series of attacks by armed men in northern Nigeria in recent months, resulting in deaths and kidnappings.