TheCable

Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, says all the 137 schoolchildren abducted from the Kuriga community, Chikun LGA,  have been accounted for.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Sunday, Sani said contrary to 287 being reported, 137 schoolchildren were kidnapped from the primary and secondary schools.

In the early hours of Sunday, the Kaduna governor announced the release of the abducted schoolchildren.

Sani Abdullahi, a teacher at Government Secondary School Kuriga, had said 287 students were missing after the attack on the schools.

But while responding to questions about the exact number of abducted students, the Kaduna governor said members of the community who did not have the records of the school released the 287 to the media.

“There was nobody who ever confirmed that the children were 287. Nobody came with a specific figure. I listened to most media coming up with figures,” the Kaduna governor said.

“I knew at that time that the figures were not correct because I had been interfacing with the school authorities; we have the register and records in Kaduna. At that critical time, I don’t want to join issues with anyone in terms of numbers.

“Those numbers were just figments of some people’s imaginations, which they gave to the media. I remember when I visited the community on that very day, some people within the community who had no record just said that the figure was 287.

“At that time, as a leader, I should not bother myself about the figures or numbers; what is more important is the return of the children.

“I met the families of the children, and they confirmed to me that the number given by the military is the correct number.”

Sani said only the teacher did not return because he was sick in captivity.

“If you listened to what the Nigerian Army said, exactly 137 children were released. That is the number. Sadly, one person had not returned. That is the teacher,” he added.

“We had an unfortunate incident – the teacher could not make it because he had some complications. He was sick, that is the information we got from the military. But the rest of the children, all of them have gotten back home safely.”