- Matawalle: Miyetti Allah helped secure release of Kankara schoolboys with no ransom paid
- Masari: We didn’t give a penny to abductors of Kankara schoolboys
- Buhari congratulates Masari, Army for rescue operation
- Ezekwesili seeks abducted Chibok, Dapchi girls’ release
- No government is immune to terrorist attacks – Lai Mohammed
- ‘We Ate Only Once In Two Days, Defecated In The Same Place We Slept’ – Kankara Schoolboys
- Kankara Schoolboys Leave Govt House, To Undergo Medical Examination
Ibe Pascal Arogorn
The released Kankara schoolboys have arrived in Katsina state.
Some gunmen abducted over 300 schoolboys from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina, last Friday.
The schoolboys were subsequently taken to Zamfara forest from where they were released by their abductors on Thursday — after spending nearly seven days in captivity.
The children were said to have been ferried into the state capital on Friday morning by security operatives and have undergone medical examination.
Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina, received the boys and he is currently addressing them at the government house.
Boko Haram had claimed responsibility for the abduction, but Masari disputed the claim, saying bandits were responsible for the attack and that the state government knew the abductors of the schoolboys.
A top government official said on Thursday that 340 schoolboys were released.
It is unclear if ransom was paid to secure their freedom, but Masari said no ransom was paid.
Buhari to meet Kankara schoolboys by 3pm today
President Muhammadu Buhari will meet with the released Kankara schoolboys by 3pm today.
Mustapha Inuwa, secretary to Katsina state government, told TheCable on Friday that the meeting would take place at the presidential lodge of the government house.
Inuwa spoke through Abdullahi Yar’Adua, his media aide.
Matawalle: Miyetti Allah helped secure release of Kankara schoolboys with no ransom paid
Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, says the 344 schoolboys who were abducted from Katsina and taken to a forest in the state were released with no ransom paid to their kidnappers.
The governor told Daily Nigerian that the state was able to secure their release through the help of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and repentant bandits.
The students were kidnapped after gunmen attacked Government Science Secondary School in Kankara, Katsina state, on December 11.
Seventeen of them who escaped during the attack were found while 344 others in captivity were released and handed over to security agencies on Thursday.
Although the Boko Haram insurgent group claimed responsibility for the attack, Matawalle told Daily Nigerian that “nothing like Boko Haram in this (the abduction); the bandits did it.”
He was also quoted as saying the state government employed the help of repentant bandits and leadership of Miyetti Allah to establish contact with the abductors of the students before pleading for their release.
“When we established contact with them, I persuaded them to release them unharmed. And so they did tonight,” the governor reportedly said.
“This is not the first time we facilitated the release of our people without payment of ransom. Ask anybody, we don’t pay bandits a dime. What we do is to extend olive branch to them because they also want to live in peace.
“As I speak to you, they are on their way to Tsafe, from where they will come to Gusau and sleep. They will begin their journey to Katsina tomorrow morning.”
The boys’ release came just moments after Boko Haram – notorious for how it has abducted hundreds of students on two occasions in the north – released a video of young boys it claimed were the students.
The authorities, however, insisted the insurgents were not involved in the incident and accused them of attempting to push propaganda and instil fear among residents.
Masari: We didn’t give a penny to abductors of Kankara schoolboys
Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina state, says no ransom was paid to secure the release of the pupils abducted from Government Science Secondary School in Kankara.
Hundreds of the pupils were kidnapped after gunmen attacked their school on December 11.
Seventeen of them who escaped during the attack were found while 344 others in captivity were released and handed over to security agencies on Thursday.
Speaking when he received the freed schoolboys at the government house on Friday, the governor said his administration did not offer a penny to the abductors of the boys for their release.
He said security agencies and members of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) were instrumental in the release of the schoolboys.
“Those involved in the negotiation include my adviser, some top military and police operatives, members of Miyetti Allah; (they) were all involved in the negotiation,” Masari said.
The governor said the schoolboys “have suffered physically and psychologically”. He assured them that they would be properly taken care of before they are reunited with their parents.
‘We Ate Only Once In Two Days, Defecated In The Same Place We Slept’ – Kankara Schoolboys
The abducted Kankara schoolboys who have now regained their freedom, have narrated their ordeal in the hands of their abductors.
Speaking to Channels Television on Friday morning after the Governor, Aminu Masari, received them at the state House in Katsina,
‘We ate only once in two Days”, one of the boys told Channels Television. He also said he was not feeling well, adding that they really suffered while in the bush.
Another boy said they were made to defecate in the same place that they slept.
Kankara Schoolboys Leave Govt House, To Undergo Medical Examination
The abducted Kankara schoolboys have left the State House where they met with Governor Aminu Masari earlier today, and are now being taken to the hospital for medical treatment.
Governor Masari had assured them that they will be properly taken care of before being handed to their parents, one week after they were abducted by bandits in the north-western state.
Buhari congratulates Masari, Army for rescue operation
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Nigerian Army for organising the rescue operation of hundreds of schoolboys abducted from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State .
The President , however , said his regime and the military have a lot of work to do regarding the insecurity in the country.
He stated this in two – part short videos posted on his verified Twitter handle , @ MBuhari, on Friday morning.
He also commended Katsina State Governor , Aminu Masari , for being up and doing since the abduction of the schoolboys.
Buhari said , “ I spoke with the governor . I congratulated him and congratulated the Army that organised the operation , the encirclement of the abductors, and getting the children. The military is well -trained . I think they are sufficiently motivated . ”
“ I am being impressed with the governor , he has been up and doing since it happened . I congratulated him that the children have been released, ” he added
No government is immune to terrorist attacks – Lai Mohammed
The Federal Government has said that it will not rest in strengthening the security system in the country until all Nigerians are safe.
The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave the assurance at a media briefing in Abuja in the wake of the release of Kankara school boys last night.
‘Let me be clear: What happened in Kankara – and in Chibok and Dapchi before it – is totally unacceptable. Our children should not have to go to school in trepidation. The Federal Government is doing everything possible to secure all our schools, and indeed all Nigerians,” the minister said.
“And we will not relent until all Nigerians can go to bed at night with their two eyes closed.
“The release of these school boys is a testament to the importance that this Administration attaches to the security and safety of all Nigerians. There is no government in the world that will not face the challenges of security at one time or another.
“No government in the world is immune to terrorist attacks. What stands any government out is the way and manner it responds to such challenges,” Mohammed said.
Ezekwesili seeks abducted Chibok, Dapchi girls’ release
A former Minister of Education , Oby Ezekwesili , has renewed her demand for the release of schoolgirls kidnapped in Chibok and Dapchi after 344 abducted Katsina schoolboys were freed on Thursday.
The former minister, who rejoiced over the release of the KankaraBoys , said their kidnap was avoidable.
She said this in a series of tweets on Friday, calling on the Federal Government and security agencies to secure the release of Chibok and Dapchi girls.
She tweeted , “ We rejoice in the freedom of our innocent #KankaraBoys ! But , Nigeria is not being governed at all now .
“ All the characteristics of a Failing State are evident in this country and must be averted by citizens.
“ Nigeria needs a rapid Independent Medical Evaluation of @ MBuhari and his Presidency @ NGRPresident have reduced Nigeria to a laughing stock in the comity of nations.
“ Imagine the depth of incompetence that produces the kind of monumental failure of intelligence and security that again made #KankaraBoys abduction possible at all !
“ Where are the remaining 112 #ChibokGirls and the only remaining #DapchiGirls , #LeahSharibu who is a Prisoner of Faith?
“@ MBuhari should we assume the 344 ( a new number from 333) #KankaraBoys went on an excursion to terrorists who have out of magnanimity released them to you ?
“ When will 112 #ChibokGirls and #DapchiGirl , #LeahSharibu also be released by terrorists to an irredeemably uncaring @ NGRPresident @ MBuhari who has for 3 years and two years respectively not considered it worthy of a Leader to engage their parents ?
When will our Girls come home?
“ When was the last time the @ NigeriaGov of @ MBuhari rendered an account of the status of the Counterterrorism war to Nigerians ?
“ Has the war not seemingly morphed into a Military Industrial Complex with him as C- in- C of the @ HQNigerianArmy ? What have we spent ? What have we won ?
