Jihadist group Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the abduction of many schoolboys from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State, HumAngle reported early Tuesday.

In a four-minute recording obtained by the outlet, leader of the terrorist sect Abubakar Shekau said the operation was carried out to rein in un-Islamic practices in the school, such as Western education.

“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,” the Boko Haram leader said in the recording. “In a nutshell, we are behind what happened in Katsina.”

Mr. Shekau’s admission deflates the ongoing assumption that the large-scale abduction of hundreds of high school students in Kankara local government area last friday, was perpetrated by bandits.

The Katsina State Government had said it had begun correspondence with the abductors on facilitating the safe return of the pupils.

Briefing President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, his country home on Monday, Governor Aminu Masari disclosed that the assailants had contacted his government and negotiations were underway.

Mr. Masari did not immediately clarify whether the elements he has been in touch with were bandits or Boko Haram operatives.

HumAngle, however, confirmed from its sources within the terrorists’ circles that no demands have been made by the dreaded sect for the release of the pupils.

At least 333 pupils were reported missing after gunmen raided the all-boys science school, which accommodates about 839 students in Kankara town, Governor Masari told newsmen on Sunday.