Garba Shehu , Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity , has apologised for saying only 10 students were abducted from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State .
Shehu had told the BBC Hausa Service that only 10 boys were with the bandits while the Katsina State Governor , Aminu Masari , said 333 students were abducted when gunmen on motorcycles attacked the school last Friday.
The abduction of the students took place some hours after President Muhammadu Buhari arrived in Daura , Katsina for a week- long private visit.
Masari , however , announced on Thursday that 344 schoolboys were released by the bandits in Zamfara State , a number slightly higher than his initial statistic.
While Nigerians delight in the news of the released schoolboys, the presidential aide has , however , come under fire for allegedly trivialising the number of abducted students .
But Shehu, who said he was misled by persons who should know better, apologised to all Nigerians over his comment .
He tweeted , “ I apologise for the incorrect communication citing that only 10 students were kidnapped at the science school, Kankara.
“ This communication of numbers was provided by persons that should ideally know . These numbers were seen to conflict with what was available at that time .
“ Please understand that this communication was in no way done to downplay the seriousness of the situation .
“ Please accept my sincere apologies on this matter as we continue to move our great Nation Nigeria forward . Thank you . ”
