Gunmen who abducted 287 students and teachers from LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School in Kuriga, Kaduna State, have demanded a ransom of N1 billion for their release. The bandits set a deadline for the payment, which expires on March 27, 2024.
According to Reuters, the kidnappers contacted a spokesman for the families of the hostages on Tuesday, demanding the ransom. The abduction took place on March 7, 2024, when the gunmen seized the schoolchildren and took them into the forest
Jubril Aminu, a community leader acting as a spokesman for the families of the hostages, received a call from the kidnappers on Tuesday, confirming the ransom demand. Aminu revealed that the gunmen threatened to kill all the students and staff if the ransom was not paid within 20 days of the abduction.
Idris Ibrahim, the councillor representing Kuriga Ward in the Chikun Local Government Area, confirmed the ransom demand and stated that the security forces were taking measures to secure the release of the students.
However, tension has gripped the Kuriga community following the ransom demand, with parents of the abducted students in a state of trauma. The community is unable to afford the N1 billion ransom demanded by the kidnappers.
Efforts to reach the Kaduna State Police Command for an update on the rescue efforts were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s directive that no ransom should be paid for the release of the kidnapped victims.
The recent kidnappings in Kaduna, Borno, and Sokoto states have resulted in the captivity of about 493 children and adults. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has vowed to rescue the abducted students and teachers, working in collaboration with other security agencies.
In a related development, the Northern Governors Forum expressed concern over the insecurity in the region and demanded a change in the approach to tackling it. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army announced the rescue of seven people kidnapped in Marange Village, Kagara Local Government Area of Niger State, after being held captive since January 2024.
