Security agents have located the enclave of the bandits that attacked Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, in Katsina State, and are already engaging them in shoot-out.
The revelation was made on Saturday by the Presidency in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.
He said as at the time the statement was issued, there was no student casualty.
His words: “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 air power was said to have 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 had not been report of any casualty among the students.”
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the reinforcement of security of all schools in Katsina State in line with the safe schools policy of his administration.
The directive was given by the president in view of the attack on the school in Katsina by bandits.
The bandits were said to have attacked the school on Friday at about 9.40 p.m. but were engaged by policemen on duty.
According to Mallam Garba Shehu, the president while condemning the attack on the school ordered security agents to go after the bandits.
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.
Parents who rushed to the school and removed their children and wards were also required 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,” said President Buhari while pledging to continue to support the police and military struggle against terrorists and bandits.
