Kankara Abductions: Northern coalition head to Daura with #BringBackOurBoys protest

Members of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) have gathered in Katsina State in protest to demand that the authorities rescue the hundreds of students kidnapped from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State.

The protest, hashtagged #Bringbackourboys, will kick-off in Katsina today, Thursday.

The protesters are expected to head to Daura to express their grievances to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently on holiday there.

The group’s spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman said the coalition will not be deterred by hoodlums hijacking their protest and would join other groups to protest and call for the release of the Kankara boys “fast, alive and safe.”

Suleiman said the CNG was aware of the massive reinforcement of police officers around Katsina State and called for caution against any attempt to suppress their legitimate protest, which he claimed would be conducted peacefully.

“It will be unreasonable to expect any northerner and well-meaning Nigerian to fold their arms and watch the north, a significant component of the country, abandoned to the mercy of bandits, murderers and kidnappers,” he said.

Gunmen last Friday, had invaded Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina and abducted over 500 students. On Tuesday, Boko Haram Factional leader, Abubakar Shekau claimed responsibility for the attack. Through a released audio, Shekau said the school was attacked because it was teaching its students things that could “destroy Islam”.