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Bandits demand N110m to release 156 Islamiyya pupils
By Modupe Shodeinde
Bandits who abducted pupils of the Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School in Tegina town, Rafi local government area of Niger state have demanded a ransom of N110 million before the release of the students.
The bandits who claimed to have 156 pupils with them, contacted the school headmaster, Alhaji Abubakar Alhassan, around 4pm on Monday.
They threatened to kill all the children if the ransom is not paid by the end of today (Wednesday).
The Headmaster said the message has been passed to the government.
However, since the Niger state Government has vowed not to pay ransom for the release of any abducted people, some public-spirited people within the community are said to have started raising the money which they hope to take to the bandits.
A statement by Mary Noel Berje, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abubakar Bello, quoted the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, as also saying, “Government is on the pursuit of the bandits and efforts are being put in place to identify them.
“The number of the kidnapped schoolchildren is not fully ascertained. However, efforts by security agencies to secure their release have been intensified. We don’t pay ransom to abductors. We are trying to negotiate to see how we can bring them back safely.”
