Gunmen believed to be terrorists have raided a government secondary school in Katsina, Katsina State, police said Saturday, in an apparent kidnapping attempt for ransom.
The attackers on motorcycles stormed Government Science Secondary School at Kankara late Friday.
“The bandits came on motorcycles firing sporadically and tried to enter the school,” state police spokesman Isa Gambo said.
Our men with the assistance of the army engaged them in a shootout lasting one and half hours”, he stated.
The gunmen were forced to retreat and were being tracked.
“We are still taking the roll call to determine if any student is missing,” Gambo added.
The police said reinforcements had been deployed to search for any missing students.
“This morning some 200 students who fled for safety during the assault have returned to the hostel”.
Local media claim scores of students might have been abducted.
Katsina, home state of President Muhammudu Buhari, is among several in northern states that have been repeatedly attacked by “bandits” who kidnap for ransom and rustle cattle.
In August, seven students were kidnapped along with their female teacher from a private secondary school in nearby Kaduna state.
The hostages were later released, but it was not revealed if a ransom was paid.