Nigeria, Feb. 27 -- President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his government is not deploying excessive force against armed bandits because of the fear of heavy casualties of innocent villagers.

The president stated this in response to the recent kidnap of schoolgirls in Zamfara State.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how at least 317 schoolgirls were abducted by bandits on Friday morning during a raid on Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Zamfara State.

Residents said the bandits woke up people in the neighbourhood as they raided the school, shooting into the air for over two hours.

The latest attack was the third mass kidnapping of schoolchildren in the last three months in the north raising fears among Nigerians in rural commun...