By Sabiu Abdullahi
Bandits who abducted 15 students of an Islamic school in Niger State have reportedly demanded more than ₦100 million for their release.
The schoolteacher, Malam Aminu Bako, confirmed the ransom demand on Wednesday, saying the kidnappers had contacted village leaders following the abduction.
Bako also released the names of the 15 students still in captivity and appealed to the government to deploy military personnel to rescue them.
He expressed concern over what he described as the lack of substantial rescue efforts since the incident, noting that local vigilantes, the school and the victims’ families had been making efforts to secure their freedom.
According to him, the only government and security officials who had visited the community were the acting chairman of Rafi Local Government Area and the Divisional Police Officer.
Bako further disclosed that information gathered by local vigilantes suggested that the children were still being held somewhere in Niger State, inside an isolated building guarded by heavily armed men.
“We heard that they are 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.
He maintained that military intervention was necessary to secure the students’ release.
The 15 abducted students were identified as:
1. Hassana Isah
2. Aliya Ahmad
3. Hajara Musa
4. Hauwa’u Abubakar
5. Halima Yahaya
6. Asma’u Jamilu
7. Radiya Salisu
8. Aminatu Salisu
9. Aisha Bello
10. Rahinatu Sani
11. Aminatu Alhassan
12. Nafisa Ayuba
13. Bilkisu Adamu
14. Salaha Abdullahi
15. Hajara Salisu
The students were reportedly abducted while assisting their Islamic schoolteacher, Bako, on his farm at Tungan-Bako village in Rafi Local Government Area over the weekend.
The development has renewed calls for urgent security intervention to ensure the safe return of the children.
The Daily Reality
