KAURA NAMODA — Security agencies have launched a coordinated rescue operation following the abduction of six students from the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State. The students were taken by suspected bandits during an invasion of their off-campus residence in the Low-Cost area on the outskirts of the town late Tuesday night, June 2, 2026.

Details of the Incident

According to initial reports, seven students were initially taken by the attackers. However, one student managed to escape during the chaos, leaving six others three male and three female students currently in captivity.

The Zamfara State Police Command, through its spokesperson DSP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the incident on Wednesday. He explained that the attack occurred after a student reportedly stepped outside at night and inadvertently left the door of the residence open, providing the attackers access. DSP Abubakar emphasized that the polytechnic’s main campus remains secure and fortified with adequate security personnel, which has kept the school premises inaccessible to such criminal elements.

Escalating Insecurity in Kaura Namoda

The abduction has sparked significant alarm among local residents and groups, including the Concerned Citizens of Kaura Namoda, who have expressed profound concern over the deteriorating security situation in the area.

Residents and local stakeholders have linked the persistent attacks to a notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Bello Dansadiya, and his gang. The community has faced a series of security challenges in recent months, including:

The ongoing captivity of two senior lecturers abducted two months ago, despite reported ransom payments.

The kidnapping of local residents and a district head from his home near a military base.

A broader pattern of instability that has forced many staff and students to relocate to safer areas like Gusau, the state capital.

Ongoing Rescue Efforts

The Chairman of the Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, Hon. Mannir Haidara Kaura, confirmed that government and security authorities are treating the situation with urgency. Rescue operations are currently being led by the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) in collaboration with troops from Operation Fansan Yamma.

As these operations continue, the incident has renewed national discussions regarding the vulnerability of off-campus student housing and the broader challenges of banditry in northwestern Nigeria.