Katsina Abduction: 333 Students Missing, Says Governor Masari

We’re in the process of rescuing them – Minister of
Defence

Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari has confirmed that three
hundred and thirty-three students are missing following an attack
on Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina on Friday
night.

The governor gave the figure when he received a Federal
Government delegation led by the National Security Adviser,
Babagana Monguno on Sunday.

The governor who explained that the school has a population of
839 students said so far, those kidnapped cut across the state with
the boarding school housing all children from all parts of the
state and outside the state.

“Based on the available record we have, we are still searching
for 333 students through either the forest or their parents to
ascertain the actual number that has been kidnapped,” Governor
Masari said.

“We are still counting because more are coming out from the
forest and we are calling through the numbers those parents that
have phone numbers to find out whether or not their children have
gone back home.

“We as a government we are yet to be contacted by any group or
person responsible for the kidnap of the students.”

On his part, the leader of the delegation and Minister of
Defence, General Bashir Magashi, asked the armed forces, the police
and other security agencies to move faster to ensure that the
speedy rescue of the students.

The Defence Minister warned that Bandits must not be allowed to
rest for a moment, adding that it is high time to declare the
bandits as terrorists to encourage people to seat up.

“Today we are here also to sympathise with you over the recent
abduction of secondary school students which is a more or less
ruthless exercise conducted to temper with the education of the
students,” he said.

“With the brief, we received from the sister security agencies
in the state, this task will be very simple to accomplish.

“Within the next few hours, we will ensure that these people are
back without any collateral damage to the people of Katsina
State.

“All hands are on deck to ensure we accomplish our tasks within
the armed forces and the police. I was here around August on the
same kind of mission to sympathise with the government regarding
the farmers/herders clashes.”

We’re in the process of rescuing them – Minister of
Defence

Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari has confirmed that three
hundred and thirty-three students are missing following an attack
on Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina on Friday
night.

The governor gave the figure when he received a Federal
Government delegation led by the National Security Adviser,
Babagana Monguno on Sunday.

The governor who explained that the school has a population of
839 students said so far, those kidnapped cut across the state with
the boarding school housing all children from all parts of the
state and outside the state.

“Based on the available record we have, we are still searching
for 333 students through either the forest or their parents to
ascertain the actual number that has been kidnapped,” Governor
Masari said.

“We are still counting because more are coming out from the
forest and we are calling through the numbers those parents that
have phone numbers to find out whether or not their children have
gone back home.

“We as a government we are yet to be contacted by any group or
person responsible for the kidnap of the students.”

On his part, the leader of the delegation and Minister of
Defence, General Bashir Magashi, asked the armed forces, the police
and other security agencies to move faster to ensure that the
speedy rescue of the students.

The Defence Minister warned that Bandits must not be allowed to
rest for a moment, adding that it is high time to declare the
bandits as terrorists to encourage people to seat up.

“Today we are here also to sympathise with you over the recent
abduction of secondary school students which is a more or less
ruthless exercise conducted to temper with the education of the
students,” he said.

“With the brief, we received from the sister security agencies
in the state, this task will be very simple to accomplish.

“Within the next few hours, we will ensure that these people are
back without any collateral damage to the people of Katsina
State.

“All hands are on deck to ensure we accomplish our tasks within
the armed forces and the police. I was here around August on the
same kind of mission to sympathise with the government regarding
the farmers/herders clashes.”