Nigeria Police: Boko Haram Abduct of 400 Students

Today, Nigeria was shocked again by the kidnapping of about 400 students by Boko Haram who attacked a high school in the state of Katsina.

The police announced that it was an operation aimed at abduction for ransom.

The kidnapping of students brought back 2014 to the memory when the world was outraged by the news of kidnapping 276 schoolgirls in Chibok by Boko Haram.

In a statement, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the attack, ordered police authorities to reinforce security in schools, and urged security forces to arrest the militants.

The Nigerian president said, "I strongly condemn the cowardly attack of the criminals on innocent children at the Science School in Kankara," declaring his solidarity with the families of the students, the school administration and the injured.

State Police spokesman Issa Gambo said, "Thieves came on motorcycles, opening the fire randomly and tried to enter the school."

The spokesman added that the police responded to them with the help of the army, and an exchange of fire took place over an hour and a half and said that the gunmen were forced to retreat and are being pursued, without reporting any casualties.

Boko Haram has been planting terror for years in rural areas of central and northern Nigeria, stealing cattle and kidnapping for ransom.

In August, the terrorist organization kidnapped a teacher and several of her students from the middle of the classroom in the neighbouring state of Kaduna, and the hostages were later released without revealing whether a ransom was paid or not.