President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police to ensure the immediate and safe return of the kidnapped students of Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State.
Buhari, who described the attack as “brazen”, has also despatched security chiefs from the seat of power in Abuja to the school in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.
As at press time, the number of staff and students taken away by the gunmen in military uniform was yet to be ascertained.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President “directed” the Armed Forces and Police to ensure the immediate and safe return of all the captives.
He also directed the security chiefs he despatched from Abuja “to coordinate the rescue operation and meet with state officials, community leaders, as well as parents and staff of the College”.
Shehu said Buhari has assured of the support of his administration to the Armed Forces in their brave struggle against terrorism and banditry and urged them to do all that can be done to bring an end to this saga, and avoid such cowardly attacks on schools in the future.
“Our prayers are with families of the victims of this attack,” said the President as he condemned as cowardly the attack on innocent school children.