DSS Rescues Remaining Federal Polytechnic Students Abducted in Zamfara

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Zamfara State have reportedly rescued the remaining students of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, who were abducted from an off-campus residence in the town.

The latest development comes weeks after suspected bandits attacked the students’ accommodation in the Low-Cost area of Kaura Namoda, triggering a coordinated security operation to secure the victims’ release.

According to security sources cited in the latest report, the rescue operation was intelligence-driven and was conducted without the payment of ransom. One suspected kidnapper was reportedly arrested during the operation, while others were said to have been neutralised.

The students were abducted from their off-campus accommodation on June 3, 2026. Initial reports from the Zamfara State Police Command stated that suspected bandits invaded a rented student residence on the outskirts of the Low-Cost area and abducted seven students. One of the victims subsequently escaped, while security agencies launched an intensive search-and-rescue operation for those still in captivity.

Following the incident, personnel of the police and troops operating under Operation Fansan Yamma were mobilised as part of efforts to locate the abducted students and apprehend those responsible. The police had also said that the Federal Polytechnic campus itself remained adequately secured, noting that the attack occurred at an off-campus residence.

The reported DSS operation marks a significant breakthrough in efforts to secure the freedom of the victims and comes amid heightened security concerns in Kaura Namoda and other parts of Zamfara State, where communities have continued to face attacks and abductions by armed criminal groups.

The successful operation is expected to provide relief to the students’ families and the wider academic community, while further underscoring the importance of intelligence-led collaboration among Nigeria’s security agencies in tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes.

Authorities have yet to publicly provide a detailed account of the operation, including the precise number of students rescued and the identities or status of the suspects involved. Further official clarification is expected.