Gunmen Demand N1 Billion Ransom for Release of Abducted Students and Staff in Kaduna.
In a distressing turn of events, gunmen who abducted 286 students and staff in Kaduna have issued a ransom demand of N1 billion for their release. The abduction, which occurred on March 7 in Kuriga, Kaduna State, marks the first mass kidnapping in Nigeria since 2021.
According to reports from Reuters, Jubril Aminu, acting as a spokesman for the families of the hostages, received a call from the kidnappers on Tuesday, conveying their ransom demand.
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They made a total of a 1 billion (naira) ransom demand for all the pupils, students, and staff of the school,” Aminu stated. The kidnappers have given an ultimatum of 20 days for the ransom to be paid, threatening dire consequences if their demand is not met.
Idris Ibrahim, an elected official from the Kuriga Ward municipal council, confirmed the ransom demand and the specified amount.
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“Yes, the kidnappers called the community through Jubril Aminu’s number and made the demand,” Ibrahim affirmed. He further disclosed that efforts are underway to trace the hidden number used by the kidnappers.
While security forces assure that they are taking “adequate measures” to secure the release of the students, Samuel Aruwan, commissioner of internal security and home affairs in Kaduna State, has not provided immediate comments regarding the kidnappers’ demands. Requests for comments from President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson and the army remain unanswered.
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Mohammed Idris, the country’s information minister, reiterated Tinubu’s stance on the situation, emphasizing that security agencies must prioritize the safe return of the kidnapped individuals without succumbing to ransom payments.
The president has directed that security agencies must, as a matter of urgency, ensure that the children and all those who have been kidnapped are brought back to safety and also in the process ensure that not a dime is paid for ransom,” Idris stated.
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As efforts intensify to secure the release of the abducted students and staff, concerns mount over their safety and well-being. The government faces mounting pressure to address the security challenges plaguing the region and ensure the protection of its citizens.
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