Bandits Kidnap Six Polytechnic Students in Zamfara at Dawn

It happened before the sun rose. At 4 a.m. on June 3, 2026, armed bandits stormed a rented student residence in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State.

By the time residents in nearby buildings understood what was happening, seven students of the Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda had been taken. One managed to escape shortly after. Six others remain in captivity, with security forces actively tracking the kidnappers’ movements.

What Happened That Morning

The assailants targeted off-campus accommodation on the outskirts of the Low-Cost area of Kaura Namoda. The raid was swift and targeted. The students were in their rented rooms when the men arrived.

One student managed to escape during the initial chaos. Police confirmed his freedom shortly after the incident. However, six of his classmates were taken into the surrounding bush. The search and rescue operation began immediately.

A Familiar and Painful Pattern

This attack is not an isolated incident. Northwest Nigeria has become one of the country’s most dangerous regions for abductions. Bandits operating in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, and Kebbi states have repeatedly targeted schools, farms, and communities.

In 2025, the Nigerian Army rescued over 1,023 kidnap victims across these states. Despite that progress, however, the attacks have continued into 2026. Students, farmers, and ordinary families continue to bear the greatest cost.

The Government’s Response

Security forces say they are actively pursuing the kidnappers. Military and police units have been deployed to track the abductors and secure the release of the students. The families of the six remaining victims are waiting anxiously for news.

For the people of Kaura Namoda and the wider northwest, this attack is another reminder that the security crisis is far from over. Consequently, calls are growing for a more comprehensive and lasting solution — one that goes beyond rescue operations alone.