Parents of abducted Islamiyya school children in Niger raise N11m ransom over bandits demand

Parents of the abducted pupils of Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School, Tegina, in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State have raised N11million as a ransom for the release of their children by a group of armed bandits who abducted the young children and their teachers, on Sunday.

One of the parents who would not want to be quoted in the prints said as the state government insisted on not paying the ransom, the parents of the abducted children of the Islamiyya school were able to raise N11 million through contributions and donations by sympathisers.

Another parent confirmed the contributions but said the bandits have insisted that they could only release their children if N110 million was paid as ransom for the release of the Islamic school children.

They said the bandits were allegedly threatening to kill their children or come for the parents if the money was not paid as soon as possible.

Niger State’s Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso informed journalists in a press briefing at the Government House Minna, on Wednesday, that the state government was negotiating with the bandits for the safe release of the pupils soon, but insisted that government will not pay the ransom.

He was, however, optimistic that the bandits will release the pupils very soon, stressing that the government has provided the security personnel and the local Vigilante group with the necessary logistics to fight insecurity of any form.

Meanwhile, Tribune Online gathered that the parents of the abducted pupils have begun special prayers and fasting, on Wednesday, after the burial of one of the aggrieved mothers who fainted and gave up the ghost as a result of the abduction of her child by bandits.

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