Boko Haram recently claimed responsibility for the abduction of over 300 schoolboys in Kankara, Katsina State. But this has raised a fresh fear in the minds of many watchers, observers and concerned citizens.
The boys were reportedly kidnapped by armed bandits, so the terrorist organization claiming responsibility might mean that the bandits sold the kids to Islamic insurgents, perhaps for use as child soldiers.
Independent intelligence outfit, Eons Intelligence has gathered that while the bandit leaders negotiated with the government and parents of the abducted students, they also negotiated with infamous leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau as well as representatives of the ISWAP faction.
Abubakar Shekau supposedly outbid the Nigerian government and has taken control of the operation.
It is said that this is not the first time that bandits would abduct high profile victims and then sell them to terrorists.
Recently, an American, Philip Walton, was kidnapped by Nigerian and Niger bandits in October, but was swiftly rescued by US elite troops who swooped in before any potential trade or sale could be struck.
Now, the stakes have been raised much higher with the sale of the boys to the Abubakar Shekau-led Boko Haram faction. It is unclear whether the Jihadist leader would order that the boys be killed or he would convert them to child soldiers.