OBINNA EZUGWU
Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, has ordered the Army and the Police to ensure immediate release of students of Government Science College, Kagara, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, abducted by bandits in the early hours of Wednesday.
Bandits had at about 3am on Wednesday, invaded the school and abducted unspecified number of students and staff. One student was killed in the process.
Reacting to the development in a statement by his media aide, Mallam Garba Shehu, the president said he ” has received reports of the brazen attack on Government Science College, Kagara, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, following which a yet to be ascertained number of staff and students have been abducted by gunmen.
“Following these reports, the President has directed the Armed Forces and Police, to ensure immediate and safe return of all the captives.
“The President has also dispatched to Minna, Niger State a team of security chiefs to coordinate the rescue operation and meet with state officials, community leaders, as well as parents and staff of the College.
“President 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.
Meanwhile, Niger State governor, Governor Sani Bello has ordered the immediate closure of all the boarding schools in four local government areas of the state.
Addressing a press conference in Minna, the State capital, Bello ordered that boarding schools in
Rafi, Munya, Mariga and Shiroro local government areas should be closed indefinitely
