President Muhammadu Buhari has described the abduction of schoolchildren in Kaduna as a “cowardly and despicable assault” on the nation by bandits.

On Monday, bandits attacked Bethel Baptist High School in Damishi town of Chikun local government area in Kaduna, kidnapping an unspecified number of students.

According to a statement by presidential media aide Garba Shehu, Mr Buhari has ordered more security operatives to the states to ensure the prompt rescue of the students.

“The president described kidnapping as cowardly and despicable, condemning it as an assault on affected families and the nation.

“While noting ongoing deployment of additional security personnel to all troubled areas, the president urged security outfits to ‘act swiftly’ to rescue all school boys and girls in the affected states and ensure safe return,” said the statement.

Mr Buhari added that mass abduction of students in the North would undermine efforts to increase school enrolment.

“President Buhari said the disturbing incidents of kidnapping students, mostly in northern states, was already threatening to undermine efforts in boosting school enrolments in states that were adjudged educationally backward,” the statement added.

The latest abduction came a few days after Governor Nasir El-Rufai said he secretly withdrew his son from a public school due to security reports bandits were about to kidnap his son.

Following the schoolchildren abduction, Mr El-Rufai ordered the immediate closure of 13 schools considered vulnerable to bandits’ attacks.