The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the deployment of additional operational and investigative assets to support the ongoing search and rescue operations in Kankara and its environs in Katsina State.
The Force Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DCP Frank Mba, in a statement, said: “The deployment, which includes personnel from the Police Tactical Squads and crack detectives from the Force Intelligence Bureau, will provide investigative support to the Katsina State Police Command.
“They are also to work in sync with the military and other law enforcement agents in coordinated efforts aimed at rescuing the students, hunting down the perpetrators and bringing them to book.
“Investigations so far reveal that one of the attackers was killed and a policeman injured during the attack.
“The exact number of students missing cannot be ascertained at the moment as massive operations including investigations, search and rescue exercise are still ongoing.”
Mba said the IGP had also ordered the immediate review and strengthening of security arrangements around educational institutions in the country.
Meanwhile the Katsina State police command has confirmed the abduction of students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State, on Friday, December 11, 2020.
In a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Isah Gambo, the bandits, at about 9:40 p.m., stormed the school, shooting sporadically with AK-47 rifles.
“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 Divisional Police Officer (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 200 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.”
The police spokesperson said it would be too early to say at this particular moment the actual number of students that have been kidnapped or missing.”
The presidency, also on Saturday, said “the military, supported by air power has located the bandits’ enclave at Zango/Paula forest in Kankara and there have been exchange of fire in an ongoing operation.”
Following the latest incident, the Katsina State government has announced the closure of all public schools.
On Saturday morning, news began flying around that over 600 students were abducted by the bandits before the police rescued some of them.
