Hours After Schoolchildren Abduction, Niger Gov., Bello, Departs Country

• “The Governor also urged the citizens to cooperate and share intelligence and information”

Barely 24 hours after marauding bandits abducted some schoolchildren from Salihu Tanko Islamic School in Rafi LGA of Niger state, Abubakar Bello, governor of the state, has travelled out of the country.

Mary Noel-Berje, chief press secretary announced the governor’s foreign itinerary in a statement on Monday.

Recall that the bandits invaded the school on Sunday evening and whisked away hapless pupils.

The bandits reportedly stormed the learning centre  on motorcycles and started shooting sporadically into the air.

The incident is the second in the state this year and among the series of abductions of schoolchildren by bandits in the northern part of the country.

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The rampaging brigands had abducted dozens of children from Government Science College (GSC) Kagara and released them a few weeks after.

In the statement on Monday, said the governor assured the state of the rescue and safe return of the students.

She added that the governor is expected back in the country “within the shortest period”.

“Governor Sani Bello also assured all Nigerlites that Government will continue to do all it can to protect the lives and property of its citizens while guaranteeing the continued peace and stability of the state,” she said.

“While assuring the parents of the abducted children of their safe return as the security agencies have been directed to do all it can to bring back the children as soon as possible, the Governor also urged the citizens to cooperate and share intelligence and information that will help in the quick rescue of the children.”