The 340 students abducted by bandits at the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State, Thursday, regained freedom.
The boys were released at about 2.20 pm on Thursday afternoon after spending six nights in captivity, according to reports by TVC NEWS at 10 p.m.
The students were abducted by the terrorist group in their dormitories on Friday, December 11 at 9.45 p.m.
Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari who confirmed this Thursday, said the students were initially held hostage in the forest in Zamfara State since their abduction.
He, however, said they were released after much negotiations with their abductors, and that they were on their way to Katsina as at Thursday night.
He said it was agreed that military operatives kept from using force to rescue the students, so that there would be no collateral damage.
The Director-General, Media to the Governor, Mr. Abdul Labaran, in a telephone interview, also corroborated Masari’s story.
“Yes, the students have been released by their abductors. 340 of them are currently being transported from Zamfara forest to Katsina State Government House this night (Thursday).
The governor’s spokesman was however silent on whether ransom was paid for the release of the schoolboys.
Recall that the distraught students who were in the custody of Boko Haram had begged the Federal Government to rescue them from their abductors.
In a short video released by Abubakar Shekau-led faction, the relatively older student urged the Federal Government to settle amicably with their abductors and advised against the use of military force in rescuing them.
On Monday, December 14, the sect members released an audio claiming responsibility for the abduction.
”All the Army that has come here to help us, please send them back. They can do nothing to them. Please sir, send all the soldiers and jet back. We need your assistance,” one of the abducted students said.
The Shekau-led faction of Boko Haram had released a video confirming that abducted students of the Government Science Secondary school in Kankara, Katsina State, are in their custody.
The sect group Thursday, December 17, released a six minutes and 30 seconds long video that features speeches from Shekau and one of the schoolboys who looked distraught and bloodied.
Tens of other young boys could be seen behind him, all covered in dust and appearing to be within a forest area.
