President Buhari has directed the military, police, and other security agencies in the country to ensure the safe and quick rescue of all kidnapped victims.

President Buhari gave the directive while reacting to the recent abduction of a large number of students in Kaduna and Niger states.

While noting the ongoing deployment of additional operatives to all troubled areas, the president urged security outfits to “act swiftly” to rescue all abducted schoolchildren in the affected states and ensure their safe return.

The president described the kidnapping as “cowardly and despicable, as well as an assault on affected families and the nation”. The President said the disturbing incidents of students’ kidnapping, mostly in northern states, was already threatening to undermine efforts in boosting school enrolments in states that were adjudged educationally backward.

He called on state governments to ensure compliance with the United Nations-supported safe schools’ program, which the present administration had adopted.

On Monday, July 5, suspected bandits kidnapped an unknown number of students from Bethel Baptist High School in Damishi, Chikun LGA of Kaduna state.