Kankara kidnapping: Katsina govt lying on bandits claims, says security expert

A security expert, Kabir Adamu Matazu, has said that the Katsina State government was not truthful in its claim of establishing contacts with bandits, over the kidnapping of hundreds of students of the Government Science Secondary School (GSSS) Kankara, Katsina State.

Matazu told Daily Trust on Tuesday that as it stands now the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, went to Mr. President to tell him that he was having contact with the bandits for negotiation to release the abducted boys.

“Unfortunately, Boko Haram’s Shekau came around and claimed responsibility. This shows that the state government was being economical with the truth.

“Because they have not, they only make that statement in order to give the parents of the children hope.

“In truth, may be they have not make any contact, but to give hopes to the parents of the children to douse tension. Tension is high, it is tensed because of the insecurity. So, I think they are being economical with the truth,” Adamu said.

When asked to relate the development to a comment by a former CBN Deputy Governor, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, that bandits and Boko Haram are working together, Adamu said Mailafia is someone who believes in conspiracy theories.

According to him, because when he (Mailafia) was confronted on the statement he made, he could not substantiate.

“It is a possibility for two terrorist groups to come together, to work hand in hand, because their aim is to destroy, maim, kill, and cause catastrophe to the country. So, it is not out of place to think that bandits and Boko Haram are working together.

“Nevertheless, this (Kankara) kidnapping is a pattern of Boko Haram strategy. Because bandits do kidnap for ransom, but Boko Haram kidnapped for whatever reason they want, but even they too kidnapped for ransom with the example of the Chibok girls.

“At a point in time, negotiation was reached where money was paid to Boko Haram and they return some of the girls in captivity. And the Dapchi girls scenario too, which a faction of Boko Haram claimed responsibility, when negation reached.

“But these are national security matters that would not be divulged to the public, but in truth, some experts were able to unravel that government paid ransom to Boko Haram to get some of the Chibok and Dapchi girls,” he added.

Adamu said he believed the latest kidnapping is Boko Haram because this kind of attack is beyond banditry, as bandits attack villages, maim, kill, rustle cows, kidnapped two, three people.

“But to kidnap a large number of people, this means they have help from Boko Haram or its Boko Haram that is responsible,” he said.