- Amnesty condemns abduction of Katsina students
- Students abduction despite Buhari’s presence in Katsina baffling —PDP
- Masari shuts all boarding schools after abduction of students
- Katsina abduction sad reminder of Dapchi, Chibok girls – Coalition
- No One Can Ascertain Number Of Students Kidnapped Yet, Says Katsina Governor
- Abducted Katsina students: Military has located bandits’ enclave ― Presidency
Ibe Pascal Arogorn
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday condemned the bandits’ attack at the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State , where students were reportedly abducted .
He has also directed men of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police Force to go after the attackers to ensure that no student gets missing or harmed.
Buhari’ s position was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity , Garba Shehu, titled “ President Buhari strongly condemns bandits ’ attack on Katsina school . ”
According to the statement , 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 .
He also asked that parents who rushed to the school and took their children and wards away should notify the school and police authorities in order to have a full account of the school population .
“ 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 statement qouted the President as saying while pledging to continue to support the police and military struggle against terrorists and bandits .
Shehu also disclosed that in the latest briefing received by the President from Governor Aminu Masari , with whom he has been in touch, and the Chief of Army 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 .
He further qouted the police authorities as saying that 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 added .
Sources: 345 students missing after Katsina attack
More than 300 students are still missing, following an attack by gunmen on Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina.
Security sources confirmed to TheCable on Saturday evening that 345 students have not been accounted for.
The gunmen had invaded the school on Friday night, shooting into the air to scare away people in the area.
The school is said to have a population of around 800 students, and according to the police, when the gunmen attacked, some of the students scaled the fence to escape.
A security officer who was manning the school premises was also shot.
As of Saturday morning, the police said around 200 students had been found.
Isah Gambo, spokesman of the Katsina police command, had earlier said a search was ongoing for the missing students.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement signed by Garba Shehu, his spokesman, condemned the attack and described the gunmen as “cowards”.
“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 quoted to have said.
Shehu also noted that the bandits have been located at Zango/Paula forest in Kankara and there has been exchange of fire with security forces to apprehend them.
“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,” the statement read.
The president also urged the school authorities to carry out an audit of the population of the students, and called on parents to notify the school if their children are with them.
Buhari also directed the “reinforcement of security of all schools in line with the safe schools policy of the administration”.
Amnesty condemns abduction of Katsina students
Global rights group , Amnesty International , has condemned the abduction of students from the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara , Katsina State .
Reacting, @ AmnestyNigeria tweeted , “ Amnesty International strongly condemns the abduction of many students of Government Science Secondary School Kankara, Katsina State by armed bandits who attacked the school last night . ”
It also called on the government to protect the citizens, especially women and children in rural communities.
“ Terrifying attacks on rural communities in the north of Nigeria have been going on for years. The ongoing failure of security forces to take sufficient steps to protect villagers from these predictable attacks is utterly shameful , ” Amnesty Director in Nigeria , Osai Ojigho , stated.
PDP to Buhari: Call off holiday, lead a search to rescue abducted Kastina students
The Peoples Democratic Party has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari over the abduction of yet- to – be ascertained number of students from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara , Katsina State .
The opposition party said it was perplexing that gunmen attacked the school and abducted the students on Friday, the same day the President arrived in Katsina for a week- long visit.
The party’ s position was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary , Kola Ologbondiyan.
PDP in the statement titled , ‘ Terrorism : Account For 600 Kidnapped Katsina Students , PDP Tells Buhari ’ , condemned the abduction on Friday and asked the president to immediately ensured the students were freed.
It partly read , “ The PDP , standing with the entire Katsina people , charges President Muhammadu Buhari , as the commander – in-chief , who promised to lead from the front, to account for the abducted students , as the large -scale abduction happened a few hours after the President and his security machinery took over the state.
“ Our party holds as perplexing that at a time the people of Katsina should have heaved a sigh of relief because of his presence, the abduction happened right under Mr . President ’ s nose; in his home state, where he had gone holidaying . ”
The statement further read , “ The PDP demands that President Buhari should immediately quit his needless holidaying in Daura and go in search of , and rescue the abducted students , particularly having earlier admitted that issue of security is his exclusive responsibility.
“ The PDP , working in concert with other patriotic Nigerians will not rest until President Buhari finds and returns each of these students .
“ The PDP urges Nigerians to remain alert and prayerful as the nation wades through this nightmare under an insensitive, inept and uncoordinated administration. ”
Katsina abduction sad reminder of Dapchi, Chibok girls – Coalition
National Security on Saturday condemned the attack on Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State by bandits describing it as a sad reminder of the terrorists ’ attacks on Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State and Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi , in Yobe State .
While describing the action of the bandits as unacceptable , the CPNS challenged security agencies to immediately swing into action with a view to rescuing the missing students and apprehending the perpetrators.
The CPNS which bared its mind in a statement by its national coordinator, Dr . Mohammed Maigoro and national secretary , Tunde Funsho , said the attack on school children was not only cowardly but also callous and a crime against humanity, prohibited under the international humanitarian law.
The organization said with regret that the action of the bandits had totally affected Nigeria ’ s effort towards the enhancement of girl child education and development .
While commiserating with parents of the children and victims of the incessant killings in the North in particular and the country in general , the CPNS called on the bandits to lay down their arms and release those in their custody.
According to the group , the attack on the school was a further confirmation that the security situation in the country was not getting better, hence the need to immediately rejig the nation ’ s security architecture beginning with the sacking of service chiefs .
The statement reads , “ We received the news of the attack on Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State , where at least 600 out of 800 students of the school are reportedly missing with shock .
“ This latest action by bandits is a sad reminder of the past similar ones on Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State and Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State that left some students dead and others missing .
“ This attack on innocent school children is not only cowardly but also callous and a crime against humanity, prohibited under the international humanitarian law.
“ We urge security agencies to immediately swing into action in not only rescuing the missing students but also apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime , ” the group said .
“ This latest development is a yet another confirmation that the country is porous without security and given this bad situation , we wish to without any hesitation join the clarion call on our dear President , Muhammadu Buhari , to immediately rejig the nation ’ s security architecture beginning with the sack of service chiefs who apart from overstaying in office , have become exhausted to face the increasingly worsening security situation of our country.
No One Can Ascertain Number Of Students Kidnapped Yet, Says Katsina Governor
Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari on Saturday said no one can yet ascertain the number of students who were kidnapped after bandits raided a secondary school in the state.
Speaking with reporters on Saturday, the Governor said 426 students have been counted as safe.
“This incidence has gone beyond imagination,” the Governor said in Hausa. “For us, it’s highly worrisome and disturbing; I am assuring parents and guardians of these children that – we couldn’t say that we are more disturbed than them – but to be rest assured that we share the same worry with them. Because we know that we have the responsibility to protect their lives and their health.”
The Governor said he has met with the army who informed him they are on top of the situation as efforts intensify to locate the bandits.
“And by God’s grace, we will do all that it takes to rescue the entire abducted students,” Masari said. “I urge you people in the name of Allah and his prophet to please remain patient and intensify prayers.
“This is because sharing blames and all sorts of abuses are not the solution in this trying time. Honestly speaking, we are not enjoying what is taking place and we are not executing what we supposed to do when it comes to the issue of protection of lives of our people.
“We want to assure you that we will do all what is possible on the school children as we have directed for the immediate closure of all schools in the state and that all students should be taken back home.”
We rescued 200 students ― Police
Katsina State police command has said the police and other security operatives have rescued 200 students back to the school following the abduction of some students on Friday night.
Addressing a press conference in Katsina on Saturday over the development, the Police Spokesman, SP Isah Gambo said the police is yet to ascertain the number of students abducted in Government Science Secondary School, Kankara.
But he was quick to add that the police, Army and Nigerian Airforce are right now in the bush trying to rescue other students.
Full text of the press briefing :
“Gentlemen of the Press, 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 scaled the fence of the school and ran for safety.
“The Dpo reinforced the policemen on duty with Armoured Personnel Carrier, (APC) which forced the hoodlums to retreat back 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 two hundred 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 find and/or rescue the missing students. It will be too early to say at this particular moment the actual number of students that have been kidnapped or missing.”
Although police authorities did not give the total figure of students in the school when the attack occurred, a competent source in the school said there were up to 800 there at that time.
Masari shuts all boarding schools after abduction of students
Governor Aminu Masari has ordered all boarding schools shut in Katsina a day after bandits abducted some students of Kankara Government Science Secondary School, 97 Kms from the capital..
Masari gave the directive when he visited the school in company of his Deputy, Mannir Yakubu.
Other government officials, some parents, traditional and religious leaders as well as security officials, were in his entourage.
Masari, who could not control his emotions, pleaded with the people to be patient and show restraint and understanding, assuring them that government would do every necessary thing to ensure the release of any abducted students.
He said that already, the military, the police and the Department of State Security had swung into action and were on the trail of the bandits.
Masari further assured them that government is doing its best possible to bring an end to banditry and other criminal activities in the state.
“The government is very firm in its resolve to be ruthless in any engagement with the bandits,” he said.
Bandits struck at the school south of the state on Friday, hours after President Buhari arrived for a weeklong visit.
The police said the bandits stormed the school with AK 47 rifles, shooting sporadically.
“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 ran for safety.
“The DPO Kankara, reinforced the policemen on duty with Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) which forced the hoodlums to retreat into the forest.” Isah said.
The Katsina PPRO said that the police command was working with other security agencies and the school authorities to ascertain if students were missing following the attack.
Isah said that more 200 students who ran into the town for their safety during the attack returned to the school, Saturday morning.
