• Military has located abductors’ enclave, says presidency

The police and other security operatives have rescued 200 students after the abduction of hundreds of students on Friday night from a Katsina science school.

But Katsina police spokesman, Isah Gambo, said on Saturday that the police had yet to ascertain the number of students abducted from the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara.

He spoke at a press conference in Katsina, adding that the police, Army and Nigerian Air Force were in the bush trying to rescue other students.

It was learnt that about 54 students were still missing as of Saturday night after the rescue of 200 out of over 800 students that were said to be in the school when the kidnappers got there.

Gambo said, “Yesterday, 11/12/2020 at about 21:40hrs, bandits in their numbers, shooting sporadically with AK 47 rifles, attacked Government Science Secondary School, Kankara.

“The policemen on duty also responded to the attack and engaged them in a gun duel which gave the students opportunity to scale the fence of the school and run for safety.

“The DPO reinforced the policemen on duty with Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) which forced the hoodlums to retreat into the forest. One inspector sustained a gunshot wound and was taken to the hospital and is responding to treatment.

“In the course of the investigation, the DPO rescued over 200 students back into the school compound.

“The police, Nigerian Army, and Nigerian Air Force are working closely with the school authorities to ascertain the actual number of the missing and/or kidnapped students while search parties are assiduously working with a view to finding and/or rescuing the missing students.”

The presidency said the military had located bandits’ enclave and condemned the attack at the secondary school.

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the security operatives to go after the attackers to ensure that no student remained missing or harmed.

A statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Garba Shehu, said the the military had engaged the abductors in an exchange of fire in their hideout.

The statement said President urged the school authorities to carry out an audit of the population of the students.

It said 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.

The President was quoted as saying, “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.”

Buhari pledged to continue to support the police and military struggle against terrorists and bandits.

“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 statement informed.

It said the President has directed the reinforcement of security of all schools in line with the safe schools policy of the administration.