#KankaraBoysAbduction: Parents Of Abducted Children Beg Government for Children’s Release

On Friday, 11th December 2020 group of schoolboys were attacked and abducted from the Government Science Secondary School in Kankara by gunmen on motorbikes. Out of over 600 students some of them were able to escape during a gunfight between the attackers and police, over 300 of them are yet to be found after an audit was carried out following the president’s directives.

Parents, guardians and reputable people called on the Nigerian government to rescue their children during a protest in Katsina state by mothers of the abducted children. 

CNN reports that officials believe this may be a “kidnapping for ransom plot”, and say the attackers are making their demands (including taking helicopters out of the region) known through a teacher. Government officials say the kidnappers have been located by security agencies “deployed for rescue operation” by a helicopter and are negotiating the fate of the children. 

The president’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu on Twitter said, “The kidnappers made contact and discussions were already on, pertaining to the safety and return” of the Kankara boys.

According to Vanguard, Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the kidnap of the Kankara boys in over four-minute-long audio released to The Daily Nigerian on Monday. In the audio, Abubakar Shekau denied asking for any ransom and said that the kidnap was done to promote Islam and discourage un-Islamic practices.

What happened in Katsina was done to promote Islam and discourage un-Islamic practices as Western education is not the type of education permitted by Allah and his Holy Prophet.

They are also not teaching what Allah and his Holy Prophet commanded. They are rather destroying Islam. It may be subtle, but Allah the Lord of the skies and earths knows whatever is hidden. May Allah promote Islam. May we die as Muslims.

In a nutshell, we are behind what happened in Katsina.

This will not be the first time Boko Haram has carried out kidnapping activities including the 2014 Chibok girls who are still missing, and the boys who were killed in Buni Yadi, Yobe State.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres responded to the news on Monday by spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, it was stated that 

“The secretary-general strongly condemns the Dec. 11 attack on a secondary school in Katsina State, Nigeria and the reported abduction of hundreds of boys by suspected armed bandits.” 

The UN called for the immediate release of the Kankara boys, stating that the attack was a grave violation of human rights and urged security agencies to arrest and bring to book those responsible for the act.

Parents of the abducted students of Government Secondary Science School, Kankara, Katsina State have vowed to keep going to the school until their children regain freedom.

One of the parents Binta Muhammad said her son Muhammad was among those taken captive.

Speaking in Hausa through an interpreter in Kankara on Wednesday, she told PUNCH: 

“I have been coming to Kankara since Saturday, hoping that my son would be freed and return home with me. I will be coming to the school until my son is rescued. I will not be tired of coming here.”

Another parent Murjanatu Danja said: 

“My husband and I have been coming here since Saturday, hoping that our son, Hussaina Nasiru, will be brought back. Yesterday (Tuesday), my husband was here while I am here today. We are appealing to the government to ensure quick release of our children.”

Meanwhile, Arewa socio-cultural organisation under the aegis of the Coalition of Northern Groups said it would on Thursday storm Katsina State to kick off agitation for the freedom of the schoolboys.