Officers of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have foiled the kidnap attempt after suspected gunmen attacked Rev Fr Angus Frazer Memorial High in Adeke community after Mobile Police Barracks, a suburb of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
They shot the security man on duty in an attempt to kidnap the students of the college.
The director of social communications, Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Rev. Fr. Moses Iorapuu, said the attackers gained access to the school and were shooting indiscriminately but were repelled by officers of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The bishop, Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Most Revd. Wilfred Anagbe, who visited the school, ordered the closure of Father Angus Frazer Memorial High School for the fear of fresh attack and possible kidnap of students.
Bishop Anagbe decried the incessant attacks on Catholic Schools in Benue and lamented that most of the schools and hospitals built by the diocese in communities across the state have been destroyed during the sustained herdsmen attacks on farmers.
Iorapuu, who confirmed this to newsmen in a telephone conversation explained that the closure of the school is to enable the authorities to investigate the invasion.
He said: “Sad news from one of our schools. An attack was carried out by people suspected to be unidentified gunmen last night at Father Angus Fraser Memorial High School.
“The principal, Fr. Emmanuel Ogwuche and the students are all safe, except for a security officer who was badly injured in the attack and is receiving treatment in the hospital.”
While condemning the spate of insecurity in the schools, the communication director described the incessant attacks on schools across the country as alarming lamenting that Benue farmers especially those within Makurdi metropolis have fled their farms this year for fear of attacks, lamenting that recently some people in communities around Makurdi the Benue State capital were kidnapped, killed and their corpses were recovered in Adeke a few days ago, a situation, he described as worrisome.
When contacted, the police public relations officer of Benue State police command, Catherine Anene said she does not have the report on the incident yet.
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