Police confirm kidnap of four seminarians in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of four seminarians from Good Shepard Seminary in Kaduna metropolis.In a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Yakubu Abubakar Sabo, the Command said it received a distress call through the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Sabon Tasha of Chikun Council that in the early hours of Thursday, January 9, about 12.30am, some armed men in military camouflage gained entry into the Good Shepard Major Seminary School Kakau, by Fly-over along the Kaduna-Abuja highway and started shooting sporadically and in the process, took away four students to unknown destination.

Sabo stated: “On receipt of the information, the Command immediately mobilised combined teams of anti-kidnapping, SARS, Operation Yaki, PMF Personnel and conventional Police to the scene, with a view to foiling the kidnapping and rescuing the victims and arresting the perpetrators of the incident.

“The IGP’s Intelligent Respond Team (IRT) attached to Operation Puff Adder has been contacted for technical support.”Sabo, however, said the prompt response of the Police at the scene helped in minimising the number of victims, noting that the hoodlums took to their heels when they sensed Police presence in the school.He added that the state Commissioner of Police, Umar Musa Muri, had led a delegation of officers for on-the-spot assessment visit of the scene to ascertain the level of security arrangement with a view to fortifying the structure and to sympathise with the management of the school on the incident.

In response, the management applauded the timely response of the Command, which according to Rev. Fr. Francis Agba, saved the situation seriously. “The visit afforded the Police commissioner to observe the security arrangement by the school authority and he has advised the management on the steps to be taken.

“This call was extended to all private school proprietors within the state to liaise with their nearest Police formation for security advice/coverage and to promptly report incidents or suspicious persons around them/environment, so as to ensure prompt response of the Police and to forestall future occurrence,” Sabo added.The Command, however, assured that it was doing everything possible to secure the release of all the victims unhurt. Muri also appealed to the people to get closer to the Police in their respective communities for a harmonious working relationship between them.