Kastsina Abduction: Presidency Debunks Masari Claim, Says Only 10 Students In Captivity

The presidency has countered claims by Katsina State Governor, Bello Masari, that over 300 students abducted from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara area of the state on Friday are still missing.

Eko Hot Blog had reported how gunmen invaded the boarding school on Friday night and abducted students after shooting in the air to create a tensed and fearful atmosphere.

Masari while briefing a Federal Government delegation led by Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Magashi (retd.) on Sunday said, “The children so far kidnapped cut across the state because of the boarding school houses all children from all parts of the state and some even from outside the state.

“It has a population of 839, and so far, we are yet to account for 333 students. We are still counting because more are coming out from the forest and we are calling those parents that have phone numbers to find out whether or not their children have gone back home.”

However, Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, has discountenanced Masari claims, saying number of students still missing are way below the figures given by the governor.

BBC Hausa Service, in a bulletin on Sunday, quoted Shehu as saying only ten boys are with the bandits.

The BBC Hausa bulletin read, “The Government of Nigeria has said its security forces have surrounded the location where gunmen have kept schoolchildren abducted from a secondary school in Katsina State.

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“Spokesman for the President, Mallam Garba Shehu told the BBC only ten children were remaining in the hands of the gunmen according to their colleagues who escaped from the gunmen.

“The number is below figures released by school authorities at the beginning. Garba Shehu said the school children who escaped said 10 of their friends were still with their abductors.”