Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has on Wednesday revealed that the kidnapped students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara were alive and currently in a forest in Zamfara State.
Masari, who made this remark in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, said;
They (kidnapped schoolboys) are in Zamfara forests, we have got the information.
He also noted that his government through the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) is negotiating with the kidnappers to ensure the release of the abducted students.
Masari stated that he had started a dialogue with the abductors, assuring that his administration would secure the students’ release.
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He said;
We are negotiating with those that have abducted the students and we want to ensure that we secure their release.
We are discussing through the leadership of MACABAN, Miyetti Allah, with those suspected to have carried out the abduction, and I have had a meeting with the Commissioner of Police and heads of security agencies.
He, however, refuted the allegation that the students were kidnapped by Boko Haram, insisting local bandits roaming Katsina and Zamfara forests were responsible for the abduction.
Read Also: Boko Haram Claims Responsibility For Kidnap Of Kankara Students, Abubakar Shekau Gives Reason
Speaking about reports about two students being dead, Masari noted;
It is not true that two students died. I was in school on Saturday and interacted with some of the students who escaped. They did not say any student died.
I also interacted with the two students who also escaped later; they did not tell me any of the abducted students died or were killed. The news of the death was speculative. The number of students we have yet to account for is 334, although some students have gone to their parents directly.
The Governor pointed out that his administration would not pay ransom for the release of the students.
