Katsina State governor, Aminu Masari, Thursday night confirmed the release of the abducted students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara.
The governor said the boys were at Tsafe, Zamfara State, and would be moved to Kankara on Friday.
He said the release of the boys was facilitated by the leadership of MACABAN/Miyetti Allah.
Masari, in an interview with DWTV Hausa at 10pm on Thursday, said no ransom was paid before the boys were released.
“We did not pay ransom to the kidnappers, it was purely negotiation,” the governor said.
He explained how the boys were released, “One hour ago, Nigerian soldiers and government officials that were involved in the negotiation for the release of the kidnapped schoolboys have told us that the whole school children have been released, 344 of them.
“Those involved in the negotiation include my adviser, some top military and police operatives, members of Miyetti Allah; (they) where all involved in the negotiation.”
He also said those who kidnapped the boys were not Boko Haram.“They are bandits who kidnapped the schoolboys, not Boko Haram.”
Gunmen abducted the students last Friday night from their school’s hostel.
Before the news of the students’ release, the Boko Haram sect had released a video purportedly showing the kidnapped students of Kankara.
The video showing some students inside a forest was released barely 24 hours after Governor Masari sat the terrorist group was not responsible for the abduction of the students.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said President Muhammadu Buhari welcomed the news of the release of the kidnapped students.
Shehu in a statement quoted the President as describing their safe return as a big relief to their families, the entire country and international community.