Katsina state Governor AMINU MASARI has assured parents of the kidnapped students of Government Secondary School, Kankara that they are still alive.

MASARI, who made this remark in an interview, said reliable information indicates that the kidnapped schoolboys are currently in a forest in Zamfara forests.

He said efforts were on to ensure that the students returned home safely but cannot be categorical on who may be responsible for the kidnap of the school children.

Just as the Governor was speaking, the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, has dismissed claims by the Boko Haram terrorists that they were behind the abduction of over 333 schoolboys in the Kankara area of Katsina State.

The DHQ Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, Major GeneralJOHN ENENCHE, noted that SHEKAU was not a person but a "brand and all that needs to be done is somebody using his voice."

Bandits had invaded the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, on Friday night and abducted over 300 schoolboys after a gun duel with the police.

The Boko Haram terrorists had released audio on Monday, claiming responsibility for the abductions and stating that they carried out the act because the government allowed western education which was not in line with their religious beliefs.

Speaking on Wednesday in a television interview, the military spokesman noted that the terrorists' claims should be disregarded as they were only seeking for relevance and power.