Abuja: A total of 333 students from the Government Science Secondary School remain missing after the Friday night attack by gunmen. Terror group Boko Haram on Tuesday claimed responsibility for abducting students in Nigeria's northwestern state of Katsina.

According to the reposts of Local media,  a man identifying himself as Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau claimed that the group is behind the adduction.  Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari on Monday confirmed that government negotiators are already in touch with the kidnappers, but he refused to disclose details of the negotiations as the authorities were trying to protect the victims and secure their release.

The government and the attackers are negotiating the fate of the boys, according to Garba Shehu, a spokesman for Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. Shenu wrote on Twitter, “The kidnappers had made contact and discussions were already on, pertaining to the safety and return."

This is not the first case of the mass abduction of students by Islamic extremist group. The most serious took place in April 2014, when more than 270 schoolgirls were taken from their dormitory at the Government Secondary School in Chibok in northeastern Borno State. About 100 of the girls are still missing.In February 2014, 59 boys were killed during a Boko Haram attack on the Federal Government College Buni Yadi in Yobe State.

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