Buhari condemns bandits’ invasion of secondary school in Katsina

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday condemned the bandits’ invasion of a secondary school in Katsina State on Friday.

President Buhari in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, declared: “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.”

The president was cited in the statement to disclose that the military have located the bandits’ location and are in the process of rescuing the kidnapped students.

“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 statement read in part.

Meanwhile, 54 students were declared missing while hundreds of students were feared kidnapped by the bandits in the operation on Friday night.  The bandits struck at the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State late Friday, after President Buhari arrived his hometown in Daura, Katsina State, on a one-week private visit.