One of the parents whose children were among the victims of bandits attack at the Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State, says the soldiers deployed to the scene after the incident refused to chase the bandits, instead they stationed themselves at the school gate.
Bandits early Wednesday morning stormed the school and abducted 27 students and 17 teachers. One student was also killed in the process.
The parent told BBC that he has three children and a nephew in the school who were able to escape when the bandits attacked.
He said his children narrated to him that the bandits stormed their hostel and ordered them to come outside for an assembly. He said the bandits, all dressed in military uniform, tried to arrange them in one place but they refused, and in the process a student tried to run away and was shot on the head.
“He said that was when many students started to run into the nearby bush,” the parent said.
He said thereafter the bandits went to staff quarters, where they took some staff members while some also escaped to the bush.
He said his children told him that they could not ascertain the number of students they were abducted because everyone was trying to escape.
“There are many hostels and staff quarters in the school, and the staff quarters are somehow far from the school,” he said.
Asked about the situation in Kagara, he said after the incident security personnel were contacted and when they arrived instead of chasing the bandits they decided to stay at the school.
“I saw troops, a vigilante group and the joint task force going to the school, Instead of them to follow the gunmen now before they go far into the bush,” the parent said.
“As I am talking to you we are in front of the police station, the troops, vigilantly and the joint task force are also here with us.”
