The federal government said on Friday that the 344 Katsina Schoolboys were actually kidnapped by bandits and not Boko Haram, adding that the claim by the terrorists that they are responsible for the criminal acts shows how decimated they are.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who stated this in Abuja, also said that no ransom was paid to the bandits before the boys were released.
He said Boko Haram were seeking relevance by attempting to appropriate the criminal activities of the bandits, adding they have been decimated.
“The release of these school boys is a testament to the importance that this Administration attaches to the security and safety of all Nigerians.
“There is no government in the world that will not face the challenges of security at one time or another.
“No government in the world is immune to terrorist attacks. What stands any government out is the way and manner it responds to such challenges”, he stated.
