Kankara Secondary School students arrive in Katsina

Students of Kankara Secondary School who were abducted by gunmen last week have arrived in Katsina.

The students arrived in Katsina from neighboring Zamfara State after spending Thursday night in Gusau, the state capital.

The Katsina state government on Thursday said 344 students had been receiving treatment in the hospital and were in good health.

The Zamfara State Government has led the admission of the students along with the Miyetti Allah National Association, according to Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle.

It is understood that the students were boarded in several buses.

The students were reportedly dropped off at an inn where they would bathe, eat and rest before later being examined by doctors.

The Katsina state governor, who addressed the students shortly after their arrival in the state, expressed his happiness over their release.

He commended them and called on them to take what happened to them as destiny.

The Zamfara government team received the children from the Tsafe Forest in Zamfara at around 6pm on Thursday.

They were escorted by military convoys in Gusau as they were heading back to Katsina.

Governor Matawalle of Zamfara said they were pursuing a compromise, which enabled them to rescue the children without delay.

He also confirmed that 344 children had been released, following the leadership of the peace process under the leadership of Miyetti Allah led committee.

“Discussions was held at least three times before a compromise was reached on the release of the students. At first it was unsuccessful, so was the second but in the end it was successful,” he said.

Were the children taken from Boko Haram?

Governor Matawalle said the students were kidnapped by Fulani herdsmen and not from Boko Haram.

He said that in their negotiations, they had solved some of their problems which had been resolved and promised to be resolved.

Among the Fulani’s grievances was the slaughter of cattle and the abuse by vigilantes.

Was the ransom paid?

Many citizens have questioned the release of these students, noting the aftermath of the abduction of the Chibok and Dapchi girls.

There are those who find it difficult to release these students just yet.

However, reports from both the Zamfara and Katsina governments confirm that no ransom has been paid.

Governor Matawalle said that issues that would prevent such hostage situation in the future were discussed, as well as listening to the complaints of Fulani herdsmen who abducted the students.

The governor also linked such security challenges to a lack of unity, warning that only working together and listening to each other’s grievances would save Nigeria.