Hundreds kidnapped, one shot, at Nigerian school

Gunmen believed to belong to a criminal gang stormed a school in central Nigeria, killing one student and kidnapping hundreds along with teachers.

Armed gangs in northwest and central Nigeria have stepped up attacks in recent years, kidnapping for ransom, raping and pillaging.

Late on Tuesday, large numbers of gunmen in military uniforms had stormed the Government Science College in the town of Kagara in Niger state before hauling many students into a nearby forest.

One of the kidnapped teachers and some students managed to escape, a government official said, and "staff confirmed a student was shot dead during the kidnapping."

The school has around 1,000 students.

Only two months ago, more than 300 students were kidnapped in Kankara, in nearby Katsina state.