Authorities in the northern Nigerian state of Niger say eleven children who were among the many abducted children from Salihu Tanko Islamic School have been released because they were “too small and couldn’t walk”.
There has been no official confirmation of the exact number of students kidnapped from the school in the town of Tegina, but its been alleged to be about 200 children.
In a statement, Sani Bello, the governor of Niger state expressed sadness at the news of the abduction, adding that the security situation in his state had reached crisis level.
The statement signed by Mary Noel-Berje, the chief press secretary to the Niger state governor said the bandits released the children “who were too small and couldn’t walk”.
“More than ten people are reported to be receiving treatment at the Wushishi General Hospital even as search is still ongoing for many missing persons from Babako, Tashan Girgi, Kwakwagi, Fakara, Ndiga, Buzu, Akare, Kala Kala, Agwa, Anguwan Gizo, Tsamiya and other neighbouring villages attacked by the Bandits,” the statement read.
“The situation has reached crisis level, in fact, it’s a war situation that we have to confront without further delay,” she quoted the governor as saying.
The spokesperson said the state government is still searching and conducting a house-to-house headcount to determine the exact number of children abducted while the joint military task force is tracking the bandits.
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