Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu has apologised to Nigerians for incorrectly asserting that only 10 pupils of an all-boys science school in Kankara, Katsina State were abducted by gunmen last week.

Despite many credible news reports, which pegged the number of abducted schoolboys at over 300 at that time, the presidential spokesman maintained that just 10 of the boys were missing.

Mr. Shehu’s unverified claim was however embarrassingly exposed after over 300 students were released Thursday night, forcing him to now retrace his steps.

In a series of tweets on Friday evening, the presidential aide regretted the apparent misinformation his distortion of facts had caused the public.

“I apologize for the incorrect communication citing that only 10 students were kidnapped at the science school, Kankara,” Mr. Shehu said, a day after 344 pupils were freed by their captors. 

“Please understand that this communication was in no way done to downplay the seriousness of the situation,” the presidential spokesman stated, while adding that he was misinformed by people who seemed to be abreast of the situation at the time.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration officials have been long notorious for making wild and bogus claims.

Barely 48 hours after scores of farmers were slaughtered on a rice field in Borno’s Zabarmari village on November 28, Mr. Shehu faulted the casualties for failing to obtain military clearance before resuming farming activities in the area.

Peoples Gazette reported on Thursday how a senior diaspora affairs official Abike Dabiri-Erewa, hurriedly tweeted without authorisation that the abducted boys had been rescued by the Nigerian government.

Ms. Dabiri-Erewa swiftly claimed a cyber breach when her statement was discredited by the Katsina State government.