14, 2020, shows a classroom block at the Government Science
Secondary School, Ƙankara, Katsina State.
Parents of the abducted Government Science Secondary
School students in Kankara area of Katsina State have converged on
the premises of the school patiently waiting for their children to
return as promised by the government.
Their gathering is coming less than one week after the abduction
took the nation by surprise.
The parents have also been recounting their experiences as they
continue to hope for the return of their children.
Speaking to Channels Television, two of the parents said they
couldn’t sleep, adding that they will continue to be spending the
night at the school until their children are rescued safely.
Upon arrival at the school gate on Tuesday, Channels Television
discovered that the Ƙanƙara school is located at the centre of a
bush leading to some scattered settlements some of which are Zango
and Dansabau in Zamfara border axis.
It also gathered that besides the school fence is a busy road
leading to Ƙanƙara weekly Tuesday Market with daily business
activities on the increase.
READ ALSO: Katsina Attack: Boko Haram Claims
Responsibility For Students’ Kidnap
Earlier today, 17 of the abducted 333 students returned home
after escaping from their abductors, leaving 316 of them still in
the captivity.
The media aide to Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari said the
bandits have warned that security operatives who were monitoring
their hideouts with helicopter must stop the action.
This account seems in conflict with reports saying that the
terrorist group, Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for the
abduction of the students.
The group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, made the claim in a voice
message, stating that they went for the students to promote Islam
and discourage western education.
Tuesday’s claim of responsibility marks a major turning point in
the advance of jihadist groups in northwest Nigeria.
Boko Haram, and a splinter group, the Islamic State in West
Africa Province (ISWAP), are waging an insurgency in the northeast
and are thought to have only a minor presence in the northwest.
But concerns have grown of jihadist inroads into the region,
especially after fighters claiming to be in the northwest released
a propaganda video pledging allegiance to Abubakar Shekau earlier
this year.