3 teachers kidnapped after gunmen attack on school in Nigeria

An internal security official in Nigeria's northwest state of Kaduna confirmed Monday that three teachers were kidnapped after gunmen attack on a primary school in the state, reported Xinhua.

The confirmation was made by Samuel Aruwan, the commissioner for internal security and home affairs in the state, at a press conference. He said no single pupil of the school was kidnapped.

An earlier statement from Aruwan said the state government had received "security reports of kidnapping of some pupils and teachers in a primary school located in Rema, Birnin Gwari local government area."

Aruwan said the gunmen rode on motorcycles into school at about 8:50 a.m., local time, Monday when the pupils had just arrived to begin the day's activities.

Upon sighting the bandits, the pupils took to their heels, said Aruwan, adding that two pupils who were initially thought to be missing during the chaotic situation were found later.

"The government can confirm that three teachers ... have been kidnapped. And following thorough checks, we can verify that no pupil was kidnapped," he said.

According to the commissioner, the military and other security agencies in the area are in hot pursuit of the bandits to ensure that the three kidnapped persons are rescued safely.

There have been several gunmen attacks targeting schools in the northern part of the country in recent months.