The students who were abducted last week by the armed men have been freed, said by the Katsina State Governor. Governor Aminu Bello Masari made the announcement on state TV of Nigeria, NTA, from his office in Katsina State.
"At the moment 344 of the students have been released and handed over to the security operatives. I think we can say at least we have recovered most of the boys, if not all of them," he said. He also stated that proper arrangements are being made to promise their return.
"The news reaching about an hour ago indicates that all of them have been recovered and they are on their way from the forest area to Katsina. By tomorrow we will get them medically examined and then arrangements will be on the way to reunite them with their families," he added.
Hundreds of the students escaped whereas it was believed that 330 were left out in captivity. He said the government will be "working with the police and also to engage private security firms to safeguard schools" to prevent the "ugly experience of the last six days". The news of the release of the schoolboys comes shortly after a video was released by the jihadist rebels of Boko Haram that purportedly shows the abducted boys. Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the abduction. The government had said it was negotiating with the attackers.