<p>Several hundreds girls are missing after a raid by suspected armed bandits on a school hostel in Zamfara, northwest Nigeria, a teacher and parent told AFP on Friday, in what would be the latest mass kidnapping in the troubled region.</p>.<p>Heavily-armed criminal gangs in northwest and central Nigeria have stepped up attacks in recent years, kidnapping for ransom, raping and pillaging.</p>.<p>"More than 300 girls are unaccounted for after a headcount of remaining students," a teacher at the Government Girls Secondary School Jangebe who asked to remain anonymous.</p>.<p>A parent told AFP he had received a call about the incident.</p>.<p>"I'm on my way to Jangebe. I received a call that the school was invaded by bandits who took away schoolgirls. I have two daughters in the school," said Sadi Kawaye.</p>.<p>Police have not yet confirmed the incident.</p>.<p>Last week, 42 people were taken by a gang from a school in nearby Niger state.</p>.<p>More than 300 boys were kidnapped from a school in December in Kankara, President Muhammadu Buhari's home state of Katsina, while he was visiting the region.</p>.<p>The boys were later released after negotiations with government officials but the incident triggered global outrage.</p>
<p>Several hundreds girls are missing after a raid by suspected armed bandits on a school hostel in Zamfara, northwest Nigeria, a teacher and parent told AFP on Friday, in what would be the latest mass kidnapping in the troubled region.</p>.<p>Heavily-armed criminal gangs in northwest and central Nigeria have stepped up attacks in recent years, kidnapping for ransom, raping and pillaging.</p>.<p>"More than 300 girls are unaccounted for after a headcount of remaining students," a teacher at the Government Girls Secondary School Jangebe who asked to remain anonymous.</p>.<p>A parent told AFP he had received a call about the incident.</p>.<p>"I'm on my way to Jangebe. I received a call that the school was invaded by bandits who took away schoolgirls. I have two daughters in the school," said Sadi Kawaye.</p>.<p>Police have not yet confirmed the incident.</p>.<p>Last week, 42 people were taken by a gang from a school in nearby Niger state.</p>.<p>More than 300 boys were kidnapped from a school in December in Kankara, President Muhammadu Buhari's home state of Katsina, while he was visiting the region.</p>.<p>The boys were later released after negotiations with government officials but the incident triggered global outrage.</p>