333 students missing after Katsina school attack – Masari

Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina

Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari on Sunday said 333 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara are still missing following Friday’s attack on the school by bandits.

The governor revealed this while receiving defence minister Salihi Magashi who led service chiefs on a sympathy visit to the state over the incident.

“The children so far kidnapped cut across the state because the boarding school houses all children from all parts of the state and some even from outside the state.

“It has a population of 839 and so far we are yet to account for 333 students. We are still counting because more are coming out from the forest and we are calling those parents that have phone numbers to find out whether or not their children have gone back home.

“Based on the available record we have, we are still searching for 333 students through either the forest or their parents to ascertain the actual number that has been kidnapped,” Masari said.

The governor said the bandits had not contacted either the government or anybody for possible negotiation.

The minister assured the state of the Federal Government’s assistance.