President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the attack carried out by bandits’ at the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State, charging the security agencies to go after the attackers to ensure that no student gets missing or harmed.
The president made the remarks in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Saturday.
He 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 advised parents who rushed to evacuate their children and wards from the school to 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,”he added.
President Buhari pledged to continue to support the police and military in their struggle against terrorists and bandits.
The presidential aide further disclosed that the president had received briefings on the incident from Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina state, as well as the Army Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.
According to him, 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 any reported students casualty.”
Shehu quoted the president to have directed the reinforcement of security of all schools in line with the safe schools policy of the administration.