Suspected bandits who abducted students of an Islamiya school in Tungan-Bako village, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, have reportedly demanded more than ₦100 million for their release.
The abductors were said to have contacted community leaders and communicated their ransom demand following the abduction of 15 students who were harvesting maize on their teacher’s farm over the weekend.
The schoolteacher, Malam Aminu Bako, disclosed that the kidnappers reached out to village leaders, demanding the huge sum as a condition for releasing the children.
Bako expressed deep concern over the safety of the abducted students, appealing to the Federal Government and the Niger State Government to urgently intervene and intensify efforts to secure their freedom.
Speaking with Leadership, the teacher lamented that the affected families had received little practical assistance since the incident, leaving local vigilantes to spearhead efforts to locate the abductors.
He disclosed that the chairman of Rafi Local Government Area and the Divisional Police Officer were the only government officials who had visited the community since the incident.
According to him, intelligence gathered by local vigilantes suggested that the children were still being held somewhere within Niger State in an isolated building guarded by heavily armed bandits.
“We heard that they were still within Niger State, locked in a building, probably without food. We are worried; we want the authorities to come to our aid to rescue them,” he said.
Bako further revealed that he had been under intense pressure from the parents of the abducted children, who were increasingly worried about their safety and uncertain about when they would regain their freedom.
“We are also worried that nobody has visited us from the state government, at least to give us hope that something is being done to ensure their release,” he added.
The teacher confirmed that the bandits contacted community leaders the previous evening and demanded more than ₦100 million as ransom.
A parent of one of the abducted students, Malami Adamu, also confirmed the ransom demand, explaining that the kidnappers initially believed the victims were students of government-owned schools.
He said the abductors were informed that the children attended an Islamiya school after making their demand.
“They told whoever spoke with them yesterday that the students were from government schools, so they should pay over ₦100 million, but they were told that the students were from Islamiya schools,” Adamu stated.
The parent appealed to the Niger State Government to urgently intervene, insisting that the families should not be left to depend solely on local vigilantes for the rescue operation.
“This is not the time to leave us to only the vigilantes,” he pleaded.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command confirmed the abduction.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said suspected bandits invaded Tungan-Bako village in Rafi Local Government Area and abducted some people working on a farm.
According to him, police findings indicated that about 14 of the abducted victims were students of an Islamiya school.
He assured that joint security operations were ongoing to rescue the victims and bring them to safety.
The Islamiya teacher subsequently released the names of the 15 students reportedly abducted during the incident.
They are Hassana Isah, Aliya Ahmad, Hajara Musa, Hauwa’u Abubakar, Halima Yahaya, Asma’u Jamilu, Radiya Salisu, Aminatu Salisu, Aisha Bello, Rahinatu Sani, Aminatu Alhassan, Nafisa Ayuba, Bilkisu Adamu, Salaha Abdullahi and Hajara Salisu.
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