Ensure immediate release of children kidnapped in Niger, Buhari tells security agencies

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed security agencies to speed up efforts to ensure the safe rescue of children kidnapped in Niger state.

On Sunday, an unconfirmed number of children were reportedly abducted by bandits during an attack on Salihu Tanko Islamic School in Rafi LGA of Niger state.

The bandits were said to have invaded the school located at Tegina on Sunday evening.

It is not yet clear how many children were taken hostage, but the bandits reportedly arrived in their numbers on motorcycles and started shooting sporadically into the air.

In a statement on Monday by Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, Buhari urged security agencies to speed up efforts to ensure the safe release of the children.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the nation’s security and intelligence agencies to expedite efforts towards the recovery of the 200 children kidnapped from an Islamic school in Niger State,” the statement reads.

“The President, who received briefing on the latest incident of school kidnapping, condemned as unfortunate, the kidnapping of children from schools and urged all the agencies involved in the rescue operation to do their utmost in securing their immediate release.

“He also directed that the concerned government agencies to extend possible support to the families of the kidnapped children.”