Presidency faults Masari, says only 10 schoolboys are in captivity

The Presidency says only 10 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara,  Katsina State are in captivity.

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This is contrary to what the State Governor, Bello Masari,  said on Sunday.  Masari had said on that 333 boys were still missing.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, told the BBC Hausa Service that only 10 boys are with the bandits.

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The BBC Hausa bulletin read, “The Government of Nigeria has said its security forces have surrounded the location where gunmen have kept schoolchildren abducted from a secondary school in Katsina State.

“Spokesman for the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, told the BBC only 10 children were remaining in the hands of the gunmen according to their colleagues who escaped from the gunmen.

“The number is below figures released by school authorities at the beginning. Garba Shehu said the school children who escaped said 10 of their friends were still with their abductors.”

READ ALSO: Katsina school attack: Over 300 students missing, says governor

Gunmen had invaded the school on Friday night, shooting into the air to scare away people in the area. The incident occurred barely  hours after President Muhammadu Buhari arrived his country home in Daura, Kastina State, for a weeklong private visit.

Residents  said that the gunmen invaded the school about 10.15 p.m and shot at one of the policemen manning the main gate of the school.

The Katsina State Police Command had on Saturday  said no fewer than 200 students had been rescued after  the gunmen attack .

The spokesman for the command, SP Gambo Isah,  said that a police inspector was injured during attempts to rescue the students.