Hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls abducted, UN reax

United Nations Secretary-General has strongly condemned abduction of 317 girls during an attack on Friday on a secondary school in rrn Nigeria.

Police and military have begun joint operations to rescue girls after attack at Government Girls Junior Secondary School in Jangebe town, according to a police spokesman in Zamfara state, Mohammed Shehu, who confirmed number abducted.

Yunusa Muhammed, interviewed by Cable Newspaper, said that four of his daughters studying in school were kidnapped.

Muhammed received a call about 0200am on Friday, to alert him about situation.

"We try to come by that time but exchanging fire between that robbers and soldiers could t give us time to get here, n we went back," he said while waiting for news at school.

Resident Musa Mustapha said gunmen also attacked a nearby military camp and checkpoint, preventing soldiers from interfering while gunmen spent several hours at school.

It was t immediately clear if re were any casualties.

Several large groups of armed men operate in Zamfara state, described by government as bandits, and are kwn to kidnap for money and to push for release of ir members from jail.

Antonio Guterres has called for "immediate and unconditional release of abducted children and for ir safe return to ir families," said Stephane Dujarric, his spokesman.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said Friday government's primary objective is to get all school hosts returned safe, alive and unharmed.

He called on state governments to review ir policy of making payments, in money or vehicles, to bandits.

Nigeria has seen several such attacks and kidnappings over years, tably mass abduction in April 2014 by jihadist group Boko Haram of 276 girls from secondary school in Chibok in Bor state.

More than a hundred of girls are still missing.

Friday's attack came less than two weeks after gunmen abducted 42 people, including 27 students, from Government Science College Kagara in Niger State.

students, teachers and family members are still being held.

In December, 344 students were abducted from Government Science Secondary School Kankara in Katsina State.

y were eventually released.

Anietie Ewang, Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch, ted recent abductions and tweeted that: "Strong action is required from authorities to turn tide & keep schools safe."

Amnesty International condemned "appalling attack," warning in a statement that: " girls abducted are in serious risk of being harmed."

While authorities investigate abductions and human right groups demand more actions,  Muhammed kept waiting for news of his four daughters.

"We are praying for girls to come back safely, that's all," he said.