Worried over an attack on the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, in southern Katsina State, President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday strongly condemned the bandits’ attack charging the army and the police to go after the attackers to ensure that no student gets missing or harmed.
The President is in Daura, Katsina for a week on a private visit.
It is not exactly known how many students were abducted, but the President urged the school authorities to carry out an audit of the population of the students following shootings in and around the school that sent hundreds of them fleeing and scrambling over perimeter walls.
Parents who rushed to the school and removed their children and wards were also required to notify the school and police authorities in order to have a full account of the school population.
There are reports State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has ordered the immediate closure of all boarding secondary schools in the state.
He was a visitor to the school in company with his deputy and other government officials to meet parents, school officials, traditional and religious leaders.
Said Buhari in a statement by spokesman, Mr. Garba Shehu: “I strongly condemn the cowardly bandits’ attack on innocent children at the Science School, Kankara. Our prayers are with the families of the students, the school authorities and the injured,” said President Buhari while pledging to continue to support the police and military struggle against terrorists and bandits.
Shehu added that in the latest briefing received by the President from Governor Aminu Bello Masari, with whom he has been in touch, and the Army Chief of Staff, General Tukur Buratai, the military, supported by air power has located the bandits’ enclave at Zango/Paula forest in Kankara and there have been exchange of fire in an ongoing operation. Police said so far, there has not been reported any student casualty.
The President has directed the reinforcement of security of all schools in line with the safe schools policy of the administration
The school was attacked on Friday night by bandits who shot a policeman in the foot at the school gate before proceeding to the staff quarters where a woman was said to have been taken, but released shortly after.
Soldiers stationed in Kankara were said to have engaged the bandits, but there were no reports of casualties on either side.
