The Presidency, on Tuesday, said repentant bandits played a role in securing the release of over 300 schoolboys abducted from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said although no ransom was paid, there were negotiations between the major actors, adding that while the talks were on, the troops of the Nigerian Army encircled the Zamfara forest where the hostages were held.

Gunmen on motorcycles attacked the school on December 11 and abducted the students a few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari, arrived in the state for a week-long private visit.

Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, however, announced the release of the 344 schoolboys six days after their abduction by bandits. The governor also said the students were released in a forest in Zamfara State.

The military had since claimed victory for the release of the students. The presidency had also praised the military for the rescue of the schoolboys. But both claims by the army and the presidency contradicted Masari’s position that the release of the boys was facilitated by the leadership of Miyetti Allah/MACABAN.

Speaking Tuesday morning on the conflicting accounts surrounding the release of the schoolboys, Shehu said the most important thing was that the boys had been reunited with their parents.

He said, “In all of the things that played out, we must thank God for bringing these children out. Glory also belongs to the nation. I don’t see much conflict in all of these things.

“The security services – Army, police, intelligence agencies – showed good judgement and capacity by promptly responding to the kidnap of those students and then locating exactly where they were being held.

“Having done that, they quickly mobilised and surrounded the entire place to ensure that they do not go out, and they do not come in. So, whatever followed after that is to reap from the gains of what has been done.”

He explained that the security forces locked in on the captors of the students in the Zamfara forest, adding that no single shot was fired to avoid fatalities.

“So, the military, having identified where they were, in less than 24 hours after the kidnap, patiently waited for the process of the negotiations to be concluded. And at the end of it, everyone is happy that it ended the way it did,” Shehu said while featuring on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme monitored by The PUNCH.

On whether a ransom was paid to secure the release of the students, Shehu said, “All of the leading actors said no ransom was paid. The governor of Zamfara State, who had a policy of engagement with the bandits leading to the surrender and renouncement of bandits, used reformed bandits –repentant bandits – to gain access to those that were in the forest and they had them (schoolboys) released.

“So, to the best of our knowledge, all the leading actors in Katsina and Zamfara States said no ransom was paid.”

Shehu also described as ridiculous claims that the Kankara schoolboys’ abduction was stage-managed.

http://saharareporters.com/2020/12/22/repentant-bandits-helped-secure-kankara-schoolboys-release-—presidency

Una just dey deceive una selves up and down...

Very deceitful administration..

This movie should be shortlisted for the Academy awards for best picture and Buhari for best director

Kankara- ice block

Lolzzzz... Dis ppl kip confusing demselves each day with their versions of dis their poorly scripted movie

Aboki is playing hide and seek at the expense of our economy.

I thought it was Buratai's kinetic approach
Jokers

Whao! Just to give some legitimacy to the atrocious activities of these criminals right? Meanwhile, it means the involvement of the government, army, BH terrorists and of course the Miyetti Allah in the alleged rescue of Kankara school boys is still a lie hence the whole thing a charade

Now, this implication of this trend for this government simply affirms that Nigeria is a failed state under the APC regime if the so called "repentant bandits" can negotiate on behalf govt.This will rather motivate more terrorists groups to kidnap & negotiate cost with the govt.

Waiting for when the "repentant, rehabilitated and deradicalized BH terrorists" will negotiate for the release of Leah Sheriabu, the Kidnapped Maiduguri-Damaturu passengers and other victims of this terrorist group.

Confused idiots trying to exonerate the bandits

Tomorrow we will hear that it was the Army that rescued the boys.

Ohhhh my God

Beremx:
Confused idiots trying to exonerate the bandits.Tomorrow we will hear that it was the Army that rescued the boys.

Very silly government!

Lia Mohammed be on the wheels am still at page 9 of my book any more protest then we postpone Christmas.

From Lekki to kankara to Hizburamiyya islamiyya incidents . These have proven the country had gone to dogs .This country is a big time joke.

Does this fool ever brush? Every time he opens his mouth, he just spews rubbish and stinks up the whole place.

But the military said they RESCUED the boys.

pure cruise

Nah eh! No qualms
This is so unsophisticated

They should help us fetch there brothers
Including those Boko Haram boys should also help us fish out sheaku and his gang as well

met my boys them

I so much love the direction the North is headed.

Everybody around Buhari needs to get their brains checked, abi they think every Nigerian is an almajri illiterate!

Anything that happens in this administration has over 10 different accounts of how it happened, from the same people, it ends up pointing to the fact that you're hiding the truth.

You now want us to see the advantages of freeing bokoHaram bandits (Buhari foot soldiers)??

I will leave Buhari/APC with this warning "The danger in creating a monster, is that one day, the monster will kill its master"

Bandits kiii you there, lier...

See lie


This present administration is evil

Bunch of idiots

Repentant killers, if na ipob Dem catch now na instant execution. Ipob are better than these serial killers. This just proves buharis is sponsoring boko Haram and all the Islamic killers in Nigeria.

I don't know why Muslims like to act this way, if they keep acting this why then no one should blame us if we hate islam

Lol

Story for the gods and zombies online and offline.
Tell the bandits to help negotiate between FG and ASUU since they are bagging the "awards of negotiators of the century"

#KankaraBoys

The boys are back - Glory be to God.

They said no ransom was paid - We don hear.

They said Miyetti Allah helped to negotiate with the terrorists - Issokay, thank you Miyetti Allah for knowing the terrorists and talking to them for us.

Nigerian Army claimed that its troops were responsible for the rescue of boys - No problem, I hail our gallant soldiers.

Garba Shehu too has apologized for lying that only 10 boys were abducted - Apology accepted, go and lie no more.

We Move !!!

Coming from the same mouthpiece that told us ONLY 10 school kids were kidnapped and when the truth was staring at him in the face, had to come apologise? I'll rather wait for some few days before believing this one.

Biggest lie 2020, bad market year

Another one!

Why is everyone directly or indirectly connected to this govt very stupid?