Niger vigilantes join mission to rescue Kagara students

A local vigilante group has joined in efforts to rescue dozens of children abducted from the Government Science College, Kagara.

More than 50 members of the local vigilante group were, according to TheCable, joining the rescue efforts at Rafi local government area, where the school is located.

As of Thursday evening, they were moving into nearby forests where the Kagara students were taken to.

Gunmen suspected to be bandits had attacked the school during an operation that lasted for about three hours on Wednesday morning.

At least 41 persons — including 27 students and nine of their family members who are mostly children — were taken hostage by the attackers.

The school was deserted following the attack.

There were, however, a few staff members and parents of the victims waiting in anticipation for good news regarding the development.

The local vigilante group will join a team of security agencies that have been deployed to the state.

Bashir Magashi, minister of defence, had promised that the government will secure a swift and safe release of the schoolchildren — but it has been 36 hours since the attack took place.