Former presidential spokesperson Malam Garba Shehu has disclosed that the kidnapping of nearly 200 students from Government Science Secondary School in Kankara, Katsina State, in December 2020, was the most disturbing event he had while serving under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking on the incident that made global headlines, Shehu recounted calling a top Nigerian Army official to check the extent of the kidnapping.
According to him, the anonymous official allegedly downplayed the gravity of the situation, telling him (Shehu) that only “less than 10” pupils had been taken, a claim that was far from true, since around 300 students were ultimately discovered missing.
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Shehu reportedly made the confession during an interview with Daily Trust, explaining how he was mislead by military leaders at the time, resulting in a massive confusion with the global press.
“The entire world’s attention was on Nigeria, BBC World, and everyone was calling. So you needed to gather the facts before speaking,” Shehu added.
“The man on the ground remarked, ‘Don’t believe what they’re saying about 280. Those they kidnapped were less than ten.’ That’s what I told the international broadcast systems.”
Following the backlash, Shehu stated that he took the initiative to apologise to the Katsina State Government and the parents of the abducted students, despite the fact that the military never acknowledged the error.
“I issued a statement apologising to the government and people of the state and to the parents of all of the children,” he added.
When questioned if the army officer who misled him faced any punishment, Shehu replied, “I don’t know whether there was [any consequence].”
Shehu also uncovered another incidence of misinformation, this time after the slaughter of over 50 farmers in Borno State by Boko Haram militants.
“Somebody was putting a spin on it, misleading me as presidential spokesperson,” he added, declining to name anyone involved.
It was remembered that the Kankara school kidnapping occurred barely hours after then-President Buhari arrived in Katsina for a special visit.
The event sparked widespread condemnation and threw doubt on the administration’s management of insecurity in the country’s northern area.
The students were finally released after talks, but the incident remains one of Nigeria’s darkest moments in modern security history.
