Bandits Demand N100M As Niger School Lists Names Of Abducted Schoolgirls

The teacher of an Islamiya school whose students were abducted from his farm at the weekend, Malam Aminu Bako, has confirmed that the bandits had contacted village leaders to demand more than N100 million for their release.

Malam Bako has also released the names of the abducted children and called for urgent military action to secure their release.

He, however, lamented that the school and families of victims had yet to receive any practical support for the rescue of the 15 students since the incident occurred, apart from the efforts of local vigilantes.

Malam.Bako disclosed to LEADERSHIP that the acting chairman of Rafi Local Government Area and the Divisional Police Officer were the only government officials who had visited since the incident.

According to him, following the visit by the two officials, the locals were left to rely on vigilantes, who were trying to track down the abductors.

Malam Bako said the latest information gathered through the vigilantes’ intelligence indicated that the children were still within Niger State, being held in an isolated building guarded by heavily armed bandits.

He maintained that only military action could secure their release.

“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.

The Islamiya teacher further disclosed that he had been under intense pressure from the parents since the abduction, as they were naturally worried about the safety of their children.

“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.

He told LEADERSHIP that the bandits contacted village leaders on the previous evening, demanding more than N100 million as ransom.

A parent, Malam Adamu, also confirmed to LEADERSHIP that the bandits had made the demand because they initially believed the abducted students were from government schools rather than an Islamiya school.

He said, “They told whoever spoke with them yesterday that the students were from government schools, so they should pay over N100 million, but they were told that the students were from Islamiya schools.”

Malam Adamu appealed to the Niger State Government to intervene and provide security support.

“This is not the time to leave us to only the vigilantes,” he said.

On the government’s efforts to secure the release of the abducted students, the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Justin Maurice Magaji, could not be reached as he and other officials were attending a State Executive Council meeting.

The police public relations officer (PPRO), SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed to LEADERSHIP that suspected bandits had invaded Tungan-Bako village in Rafi Local Government Area and abducted some people working on a farm.

He said the police report indicated that about 14 of the abducted victims were students of an Islamiya school who were assisting their instructor in harvesting maize on the farm.

He assured that joint security operations to rescue the victims were ongoing, although villagers maintained that only local vigilantes were on the ground.

Meanwhile, the Islamiya teacher provided LEADERSHIP with the following names of the students abducted while harvesting maize on his farm: 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, Hajara Salisu.