Breaking: Kankara Students Released |The Source

By Adesina Soyooye

Relief has come to the Nation, Katsina State, and the Kankara community, in particular, as the over 300 students abducted from the Government Science Secondary School, have been released by their abductors.

The news of their release was confirmed by the  Media aide to Governor Aminu Masari. He said the students were on their way to Katsina Government House where Masari was waiting to receive them.

Photographs published by Saharareporters show the students packed in lorries, on their way home, escorted by soldiers.

It is not known who, or which group, finally negotiated their release, but their abduction had sparked national outrage and helplessness, especially, as they were abducted hours after the President arrived his Daura, Katsina home for a week long private visit.

There had been claims and counter-claims over which group abducted them. Governor Masari had claimed the boys were abducted by local bandits.

But the leader of Boko  Haram, Abubakar Shekau, had put a lie to the Governor’s claim by showing  the photographs, in a video, of the boys in the custody of his group. He said they were kidnapped to stop them from having access to western education.

In the video which lasted six minutes and a some seconds, one of the abducted students was seen pleading with the Government to negotiate with Boko Haram and urgently effect their release.

He warned the Government to call off all other efforts of rescue by not engaging the sect in a gun battle. He also asked that all schools which teach western education be closed down.

It is not known yet if any ransome was paid for their release or not, but Masari had earlier said that the Miyetti Allah was acting as the middleman to negotiate with the abductors.

….Details, later.