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Tag: abducted students

  • Gunmen release 11 out of over 200 abducted students in Niger State

    Gunmen release 11 out of over 200 abducted students in Niger State

    Eleven students who were part of scores kidnapped earlier from an Islamiyya school located at Tegina in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State have been released.

    This is according to a communique by Mary Noel-Berje, Chief Press Secretary to the state governor.

    In the statement late on Sunday, Ms. Noel-Berje noted that the released children were deemed too small and couldn’t walk, and this prompted the kidnappers to release them.

    The state’s chief scribe stated that Governor Abubakar Sani Bello expressed shock and is saddened by the recent reports of abduction of innocent people by armed bandits in several communities across three Local Government Areas of Rafi, Wushishi, and Bida.

    Gunmen invaded Tegina community in Rafi Local Government Area, shot one person dead, and left one seriously injured as well as kidnapped an unconfirmed number of Islamiyya Students and Teachers from Salihu Tanko Islamic School alongside some passengers of a Sharon Bus travelling to Minna.

    Speaking further regarding the ugly event, Governor Bello said it is outrageous that banditry in the state is escalating. He reiterated his emergency call on the Federal Government for prompt intervention.

    “The situation has reached crisis level, in fact, it’s a war situation that we have to confront without further delay,” the governor fumed while also stating that the state government is still searching and conducting a house-to-house headcount to ascertain the exact number of children abducted at Tegina.

    Niger State has had a bad run in recent times, with bandits constantly threatening the peace of the state. Only yesterday, there were reports that gunmen, on about 70 motorcycles, attacked 17 communities in Wushishi Local Government Area where they shot several people.

    In a bid to escape the bullets of the marauders, some women and children drowned as they tried to get across River Kaduna.

    Sources say more than ten people are still receiving treatment at the Wushishi General Hospital even as searches are still ongoing to ascertain how many persons are missing from Babako, Tashan Girgi, Kwakwagi, Fakara, Ndiga, Buzu, Akare, Kala Kala, Agwa, Anguwan Gizo, Tsamiya and other neighbouring villages which were attacked by the bandits.

    The governor described the current situation as unfortunate and unbecoming and assured that the Joint Military Taskforce has been mobilized and are already tracing the tracks of the criminals for possible isolation and ambush.

    Governor Bello appealed for calm and restated the “strong resolve” of the state government to continue to protect the lives and property of the citizens as a matter of utmost importance and priority.

  • Greenfield: We paid bandits N180m to release our children, says parents of abducted students[Video]

    Greenfield: We paid bandits N180m to release our children, says parents of abducted students[Video]

    Some of the parents of the abducted students of Greenfield University, Kaduna alleged that they paid N180 million ransom before bandits released their children.

    Recall TheNewsGuru (TNG) reported yesterday that fourteen of the abducted students regained their freedom.

    The students were abducted on April 20 when bandits attacked the institution.

    The bandits subsequently killed five of the students and threatened to kill the others if a ransom was not paid, while one of the students was later released.

    A video shared by Television Continental (TVC) on social media showed two parents lamenting the neglect of the government as they struggled to raise the ransom.

    Watch video:

    Buhari says he’s relieved as kidnapped students regain freedom

    Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the release of 14 students who stayed in captivity for 40 days before their eventual release.

    Buhari, in a statement on the official twitter handle of the presidency late Saturday night said he is relieved that the Greenfield University students freed on Saturday were now home safe, at the end of a 40-day ordeal.

    “Once again, the President condoles with the families of the students and staff that were killed by the abductors.

    The President assured that his government would continue to work with state governments to step up the protection of lives and property across the country, including educational institutions and other vulnerable targets.

    “Kidnapping is a serious crime and a gross violation of the rights of fellow citizens,” he said.

    Buhari assured that kidnapping and all other forms of criminality would continue to be met with zero tolerance by security agents.