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Buhari in Katsina: Gov Masari orders closure of schools as bandits abduct students
BY NICHOLAS ABE
Gunmen suspected to be bandits on Friday night invaded Government Science Secondary School Kankara in Katsina State and abducted unknown number of students.
This was barely a few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari arrived Katsina, his home state, for a week-long private visit.
Residents said gunmen invaded the school at about 10.15 p.m. and shot one of the policemen manning the school main gate on the leg.
It was learnt that the bandits then proceeded to the staff quarters where they abducted the wife of an employee in the school before they stormed the students’ hostel and abducted unspecified number of students.
Military sources, according to The Punch, disclosed that troops of the Nigerian Army later arrived at the school to confront the bandits and the bandits absconded with some of the students in the process.
Some of the students were also said to have escaped from the school during the gun duel between the troops and the bandits.
READ: Police rescues 9 officers abducted by bandits in Katsina
The Spokesman for the Katsina Police Command, SP Gambo Isah, confirmed the incident but could not disclose the exact number of students abducted.
“We are still taking the headcount of the students. Maybe no student was even abducted as some of the students had to escape from the school during the gun duel. So, I cannot give you the exact number of students actually abducted for now,” Isah said.
A senior staff at the school equally said the headcount of the students were being taken.
Meanwhile, Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has ordered the immediate closure of all boarding secondary schools in the state.
Governor Masari’s directive followed the abduction of the students.
The governor spoke on Saturday during his visit to the school. He met with the school officials, parents, traditional and religious leaders as well as security officials.
The governor reportedly pleaded with the people to be patient, assuring them that the government would do every necessary thing to ensure the release of all the abducted students.