Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has sent more police officials to Katsina State where an attack on a secondary school by gunmen has left scores missing with many feared abducted.
These additional “operational and investigative assets” are to support the ongoing search and rescue operations following the attack.
Police Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, in a statement said;
The deployment is sequel to the unfortunate attack on Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State by heavily armed men on 11th December 2020 which left some of the students missing.
Among additional officials sent to the state are personnel from the Police Tactical Squads and crack detectives from the Force Intelligence Bureau, to provide investigative support to Katsina State Police Command.
Mba added;
They are also to work in sync with the military and other law enforcement agents in coordinated efforts aimed at rescuing the students, hunting down the perpetrators, and bringing them to book.
It would be recalled that gunmen stormed the boarding secondary school late on Friday night, causing students, teachers, and staff members to flee for their lives. In the process, many were feared abducted.
Read Also: School Attack: Over 200 Students Rescued – Katsina Police
According to the police, investigations so far reveal that one of the attackers was killed and a policeman injured during the attack.
Mba stressed;
The exact number of students missing cannot be ascertained at the moment as massive operations including investigations, search and rescue exercise are still ongoing.
The attack has drawn condemnation from many including President Muhammadu Buhari who has directed the reinforcement of security of all schools in reaction, and in line with the safe schools policy of the administration.
The President, as quoted in a statement released by spokesman Garba Shehu, said;
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.
Shehu, in his statement, said the military has located the bandits’ location and are in the process of retrieving the abducted students.
He noted;
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 airpower has located the bandits’ enclave at Zango/Paula forest in Kankara and there has been exchange of fire in an ongoing operation.
Governor Masari who visited the school on Saturday morning said no one can yet ascertain the number of students who were kidnapped in the attack.
A member of staff expressed that there were 884 students in the school at the time of the attack. At the time, the Governor visited the school, he told reporters that 426 students had been counted safe.
The Governor appealed for understanding and prayers and promised that all efforts will be made to bring their kids back safely and protect lives.
Masari added;
This incidence has gone beyond imagination. 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 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.
