Reportedly, the abductors of over 287 schoolchildren in Kuriga village of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have demanded a ransom of N1 billion from the victims’ families.
According to Daily Trust, the bandits made the demand during a phone call, specifying that the ransom must be paid within the next 20 days.
Confirming the call, Aminu Kuriga, a youth leader in the community, expressed deep concern over the situation, stating, “They (bandits) claimed they are somewhere around the northern part of Zamfara with the children and that we should pay the N1bn before the next 20 days.”
The abduction occurred last Thursday morning, shortly after an Assembly session, as gunmen invaded the school premises, taking pupils and staff members captive.
Despite assurances from Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, to ensure the safe return of all abducted children, there have been no reports of rescues, with bandits even sighted at the community’s entrance five days after the incident.
The Kaduna State Government has yet to respond to the ransom demand, and efforts to reach the Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, have been unsuccessful.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, has ruled out the possibility of paying a ransom to rescue kidnapping victims, urging security agencies to take necessary action to ensure the safe return of the children, including those abducted from Tsangaya schools in Sokoto and IDPs in Borno State.
