KATSINA: I apologise for claiming only 10 Kankara schoolboys were abducted — Garba Shehu

THE Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, has apologised for claiming that only 10 pupils were abducted from Katsina school.

Shehu had in an earlier interview with an international media organization, claimed that contrary to media reports of over 400 students being kidnapped, he had it on good authority that only 10 were actually abducted.

Shehu’s claim has been interpreted by many Nigerians as an attempt to do damage control for the Buhari administration by downplaying the gravity of the insecurity bedevilling the country.

Shehu’s apology reads:  “I apologize for the incorrect communication citing that only 10 students were kidnapped at the science school, Kankara

“This communication of numbers was provided by persons that should ideally know. These numbers were seen to conflict with what was available at that time. 

“Please understand that this communication was in no way done to downplay the seriousness of the situation.

“Please accept my sincere apologies on this matter as we continue to move our great Nation Nigeria forward. Thank you.”