Gunmen have raided a secondary school in northern Nigeria's 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," said state police spokesperson Isa Gambo.
"Our men with the assistance of the army engaged them in a shootout lasting one and half hours."
The gunmen were forced to retreat and were being tracked, but the spokesman made no mention of casualties.
"We are still taking the roll call to determine if any student is missing," he told AFP.
Nonetheless, 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, " he added.