NIGERIA – Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the kidnapped Katsina schoolboys in Kankara.  The group in the released video stated: “What happened in Katsina was done to promote Islam and discourage un-Islamic practices as Western education is not the type of education permitted by Allah and his Holy Prophet.

“They are rather destroying Islam. It may be subtle, but Allah the Lord of the skies and earths knows whatever is hidden. May Allah promote Islam. May we die as Muslims,” Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram Leader said.

Although efforts have been intensified to rescue the Kankara boys, security experts and public analysts have suggested that Shekau may release the victims based on three arrangement which the federal government may be forced to take one,’

1. Ransom Experts argued that since Kankara abduction is a case of kidnapping, the Boko Haram insurgent group, having claimed responsibility for the abduction, may go for ransom from the federal government. Although the chances of rescuing all the boys get slimmer every day, should the government go into a negotiation with the dreaded terrorist group, a huge ransom may be demanded to set free the victims.

2.Prisoner Swap Another condition, as argued by security experts based on past records, is that Shekau may want to swap the boys with some of the Boko Haram members captured by the Nigerian military operatives. Since the renewed efforts and onslaught towards the fight against terror in the northeast, many Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters have been killed and arrested. Shekau may opt for the release of his boys before freeing the Kankara students.

3. Like Chibok Girls, some may be released, some recruited There is a palpable fear that those kidnapped boys may be recruited into Shekau’s Boko Haram army if the first two options collapse. And experts have argued that like the Chibok girls, some of the boys may escape, willingly released while some distributed across the Lake Chad as young fighters.