333 students of the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara are yet to be accounted for, Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, on Sunday told a visiting Federal Government delegation led by National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno.
The school was invaded by gunmen last Friday, the same day President Muhammadu Buhari arrived Katsina State for a weeklong private visit.
Said Masari, “Based on the available records, we are still searching for 333 students through either the forest or their parents to ascertain the actual number that have been kidnapped.
“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.
“As a government, we are yet to be contacted by any group or person responsible for the kidnap of the students.”
The school, according to Masari, has a population of 839.
In anger, some parents of the abducted students protested on the same day Masari spoke, amid reports that the police tear-gassed them.
The parents carried placards with the inscriptions “Government must speak out”, “We want our children back” and “We want security in Kankara.
Another group, Coalition of Northern Groups through its North West Zone leader, Mr. Jamilu Charanchi, has warned that if nothing is done promptly to rescue the students, it will lead a protes, even if cost lives of members.
Charanchi berated President Buhari for being in the State, but is yet to visit the attacked school.
Expectedly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has queried the government over the unwarranted tear gassing by the police on the sorrowing parents.
The party described as disturbing the police action.
In a statement on Sunday, the party said further: “It is indeed sad that instead of going after terrorists and insurgents, that struck few hours after a holidaying President Buhari and his security machinery took over the state, the state apparatus of power is being used to inflict further pain on the helpless victims.
“Such display of insensitivity further foregrounds the lack of empathy by the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration and serves as a sad reminder of how it also blamed the 43 farmers recently slain by terrorists in Borno state, instead of taking steps to apprehend the assailants.
“Indeed, our party shares the pains and sorrows of these parents who have been under serious torment since President Buhari arrived Katsina for his needless holidays.
“The PDP therefore calls on the Buhari Presidency to immediately apologize to Nigerians and the parents of the kidnapped students as well as take steps to ensure disciplinary actions on those who ordered the tear gas attack on the parents.
“Our party also restates our call to President Buhari to go in search of and rescue the students, who were kidnapped while his security machinery was in charge of the state.
“The PDP reiterates its stand, in solidarity with the people of Katsina state and other patriotic Nigerians, not to rest until President Buhari finds and rescues each of these young ones.”