Gunmen have attacked a private university in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna state, killing one staff member and kidnapping students, police and officials said Wednesday. xSince December, criminal gangs known locally as bandits have increasingly targeted schools and colleges for kidnapping attacks, hoping to squeeze ransom payments out of the authorities. x“After search-and-rescue operations, a staff member of the university was confirmed to have been killed by the armed bandits, while a number of students were kidnapped,” said Aruwan. An official of the university, who declined to give his name or say how many students are enrolled, said a headcount was underway. Schools targeted in northern Nigeria are usually in remote areas where students stay in dormitories with only watchmen for security, making them easier targets.

Source: The Guardian April 21, 2021 11:48 UTC