Buhari declares war against bandits attacking schools

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Federal Government will not tolerate bandits attacking schools and destroying the school system.

Speaking on the recent attack by bandits on the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Kaduna, he also commended the military for rescuing 172 of the students.

Spokesman for the President, Garba Shehu, gave Buhari’s message in a statement on Saturday.

The Kaduna students’ abduction is the latest in a series of attacks carried out by bandits across schools in northern Nigeria.

Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, had said 172 students and eight staff members were freed from the bandits, but 39 students are still unaccounted for.

According to Shehu, Buhari warned that the Federal Government would not allow the destruction of the school system by bandits.

He hailed the prompt intervention of the military, but urged that the others declared missing are found and returned safely to their families.

The President also commended the efforts and contributions of local intelligence in significantly confronting the kidnappers, adding that a country which has an efficient local intelligence network is a safer country.

He sympathised with victims of the incident, and called on members of the public to support the fight against banditry.

“Our military may be efficient and well-armed, but it needs good efforts for the nation’s defence and the local population must rise to this challenge of the moment,” the President said.