Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the security authorities to hasten efforts to rescue more than 100 children kidnapped from an Islamic school in Niger state.

The president condemned the latest incident as "unfortunate" while urging the agencies to secure their "immediate release" according to a statement shared by his spokesman Garba Shehu:

Mr Buhari has also directed government agencies to extend possible support to the families of the kidnapped children.

Abductions carried out for ransom are increasingly common in northern states - with hundreds having been kidnapped in several incidents in recent months.

In February, nearly 300 girls were taken by armed men from a boarding school in Jangebe, Zamfara state. Most were later freed.

In the latest incident on Sunday in the town of Tegina, gunmen on motorcycles are reported to have stormed the town and opened fire indiscriminately.

The gunmen then seized the students from the school - where children aged between six and 18 years attend - as people fled.