About 15 persons, who were abducted alongside 156 pupils from the Salihu Tanko Islamiyya school in Tegina, Niger State, escaped from the kidnappers’ den in Zamfara State on Sunday.
The victims were kidnapped more than two weeks ago but were reportedly separated from the children before being taken to a forest in Zamfara state.
It was gathered that on Friday night, the 15 victims managed to open the door of the house in which they were locked in when the bandits stationed to guard them were drunk and deeply asleep.
The escapees were said to have moved in different directions in order not to arouse suspicion from other bandits in the forest.
Some of the victims were able to come out from a bush around Zaria and sought the help of some military personnel who helped them in calling their people in Niger State.
One of the escapees, who first arrived in Tegina, broke the news which made the Niger State Government to immediately swing into action to assist the remaining victims.
The escapee was admitted at a medical facility in the town for treatment.
However, on Sunday evening at 4pm, military men on patrol went after the bandits and almost 15 bandits were allegedly killed in a gunfight between the military and bandits.
One officer was killed in the fight at Anguwan Mallam, Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger State.
A source disclosed that, “The presence of the military was what saved out community from the bandits. They came in their numbers on motorcycles and the people became scared because we don’t have what it takes to face them.
“But many were killed; we discovered dead bodies even today in the morning in the bush. We found their sleeping kits and some other valuable materials belonging to them.”
