EXCLUSIVE: Abducted Katsina schoolboys freed

The abducted students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State have been rescued.

Our sources said the schoolboys regained freedom on Thursday and are on their way to Tsafe in Zamfara State.

According to our insider, who pleaded anynomity, the children were rescued in sound health and are in stable condition.

“They were asked through phone if they are complete and they said yes,” our sources added.

The lastest development further affirms Abike Dabiri-Erewa’s earlier claim.

In a now deleted tweet, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) had announced that the school children have all been rescued.

“Yaaaay. The 333 boys captured in Katsina have been rescued. Allhamdulilah! @MBuhari administration has brought back our boys. #BringBackOurBoys. Our boys are back,” a tweet from her handle read on Thursday before being deleted.

The tweet came hours after Boko Haram released a video showing boys believed to be the abducted students.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, however, tweeted afterwards that she briefly lost control of her Instagram and Twitter accounts.

“Pls don’t credit any post on katsina boys to my Twitter handle. I lost control of my handle in the last couple of minutes, along with my Instagram. I have recovered and changed my password”.

Recall that hundreds of students were abducted by suspected bandits in Katsina last Friday.

With suggestion of a potential negotiation with the armed group filling the air, the military said it is against its rules of engagement to enter into such with perceived criminals.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, on Wednesday, however, assured troops would continue its ongoing kinetic operations, noting that the armed forces were reviewing strategies to ensure the safe rescue of the children.