NATIONAL: How bandits allegedly sold kidnapped Kankara students to Shekau’s Boko Haram

THERE are strong indications that Boko Haram did not actually kidnap the Kankara students as claimed by the terrorist sect but rather the group, through its factional leader, Abubakar Shekau, bought the abducted boys from the bandits.

Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram’s factional leader, had claimed responsibility for the abduction of over 300 Kankara students, but fresh information has suggested that the bandits sold the boys to the Islamic insurgents for use as child soldiers.

It was gathered that while the bandit leader Daudawa along with Dankarami and Idi Menore were negotiating with the government and parents of the abducted students, the trio was also negotiating with JAS Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau as well as representatives of the ISWAP faction.

This was confirmed by the admission of Governor Masari yesterday that the bandits had contacted him and talks were ongoing.

But while the negotiations with government were still going on, Shekau allegedly contacted the bandits and bought the abducted boys.

The schoolboys wouldn’t be the first high profile victims to be abducted by the bandits.

Philip Walton, the American who was kidnapped by a group of Nigerian and Niger bandits on October 30, was on the verge of being sold to terrorists when the US elite troops in collaboration with Nigerian security operatives rescued him.

“We had to rescue him before any potential trade or sale,” a US official told newsmen while explaining the reason the US forces quickly swept on the bandits.

Reports have it that it was after the negotiations between the bandits and Shekau were finalised that he came to the public to claim responsibility for the abduction.

With this development,  Abubakar Shekau outbid the Nigerian government as well the ISWAP and has the boys in his custody.

Now that the boys have been auctioned to Abubakar Shekau’s Boko Haram faction, the stake has been raised higher. As it is unclear if the elusive Jihadist leader would order the killing of the boys or convert them to child soldiers to carry out their nefarious December attacks.