The factional leader of the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents, Abubakar Shekau has claimed responsibility for the abduction of students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State.
Shekau, in an audio message first published by HumAngle stated that the action was carried out to ‘promote islam and discourage un-islamic practices’.
“What happened in Katsina was done to promote Islam and discourage un-Islamic practices as Western education is not the type of education permitted by Allah and his Holy Prophet,” he said.
“They are also not teaching what Allah and his Holy Prophet commanded. They are rather destroying Islam. It may be subtle, but Allah the Lord of the skies and earths knows whatever is hidden. May Allah promote Islam. May we die as Muslims.”
“In a nutshell, we are behind what happened in Katsina,” he said.
There have been conflicting figures in respect of the actual number of students taken away but the State governor, Aminu Bello Masari had confirmed that his government was negotiating with the abductors of the missing students.
The insurgents who abducted more than 300 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, have contacted the Katsina state government.
The governor of the Northwestern Nigeria State, Aminu Masari, stated this when he briefed the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, in Daura on Monday.
Armed bandits had stormed the school on Friday night and abducted the students after a gun duel with the police the same day Buhari arrived in the state.
Presidential aide Garba Shehu in a statement said the the governor briefed President Buhari on the progress made so far to rescue the students unharmed.
Mr. Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity said: “President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday in Daura, Katsina State, received more briefing on children kidnapped from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, with an assurance from Governor Aminu Bello Masari of steady progress to bring them out unharmed.
“The Governor, who was accompanied by the Deputy Governor of the state, Manir Yakubu, said the kidnappers had made contact and discussions were already on pertaining to safety and return to their homes.
“Governor Masari also noted that security agencies had located the position of the children.
“The Governor said the President was fully committed to the rescue of the school children, adding that it was only appropriate to visit the President and give him more details of rescue efforts.”
