He stressed that, although the number of the kidnapped students was yet to be known, the victims would be more than 100.

“We are yet to identify the actual number of students abducted, but we believe that they would reach 100,” the source said.

He maintained that the school has a population of over 300 students, adding that a significant number of the students were taken by the bandits.

Kaya further explained that the whole town had been deserted due to the fear that the bandits could return to the area.

Efforts to get comments from the state Police command failed, as the phone numbers of the spokesperson of the command, SP Mohammed Shehu, could not be reached after several attempts.

Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, hails from Maradun.