Abducted Katsina Students: Military has located bandits’ enclave ― Presidency

The military has located the hideout of the bandits responsible for the attack and abduction of students at the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State, and had started engaging them in an exchange of fire.

This is according to a statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity).

The statement said President has 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.

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 statement quoted the president 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.