The Katsina State Police Command has spoken on the attack by gunmen on Government Science Secondary School Kankara which left hundreds of students unaccounted for.
This is even as Governor Aminu Bello Masari, who visited the attacked school, ordered the closure of all boarding schools in the state, adding that efforts are on to rescue the missing students.
Spokesman of the police in Katsina, DSP Gambo Isa said on Friday around 9:40pm, “Bandits in their numbers, shooting sporadically with AK 47 rifles, attacked Government Science secondary school, Kankara.
“The policemen on duty also responded to the attack and engaged them in a gun duel which gave the students opportunity to scaled the fence of the school and ran for safety.
The DPO reinforced the policemen on duty with Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) which forced the hoodlums to retreat back into the forest.
“One Inspector sustained a gunshot wound and was taken to the hospital and is responding to treatment.
“In the course of investigation, the DPO rescued over two hundred students back into the school compound.
“The police, Nigerian Army, and Nigerian Air Force are working closely with the school authorities to ascertain the actual number of the missing and/or kidnapped students while search parties are assidiously working with a view to find and/or rescue the missing students.
“It will be too early to say at this particular moment the actual number of students that have been kidnapped or missing.”
Meanwhile, Masari told journalists that “This big tragedy, and our concern and commitment towards rescuing the schoolboys is beyond measure.
“We can’t say we are more concerned than parents, but we deeply share in their pains, knowing full well that we are responsible for the protection of their lives and well-being.
“The soldiers have informed me that they are currently battling with the bandits, and we will do our best to rescue them all.
“We have ordered the closure of all schools and directed that all the schoolboys be returned to their parents,” the governor said.
