Bandits demand over N100m ransom for abducted Islamiya students in Niger State

A teacher at an Islamiya school in Niger State, Malam Aminu Bako, whose students were abducted from his farm has confirmed that bandits contacted village leaders, demanding more than N100 million for their release.

Bako also released the names of the 15 abducted children and called for urgent military action to free them, saying the school and the families of the victims had received no practical support for the rescue effort since the incident, apart from the work of local vigilantes.

According to the teacher, the acting chairman of Rafi Local Government Area and the Divisional Police Officer were the only government officials who visited after the abduction. 

Following that visit, residents have been left to rely on vigilantes attempting to track the abductors 

Intelligence gathered by the vigilantes indicates that the children remain within Niger State, held in an isolated building guarded by heavily armed bandits.

Bako insisted that only military intervention 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 teacher said he had come under intense pressure from the parents, who were anxious about their children’s safety. 

“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.

Bako disclosed that the bandits contacted village leaders the previous evening and demanded more than ₦100 million as ransom.

A parent, Malam Adamu, confirmed the demand, saying the bandits initially believed the abducted students attended government schools. 

“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,” Adamu said.

He appealed to the Niger State Government to intervene and provide security support, adding, “This is not the time to leave us to only the vigilantes."

The spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun has confirmed that suspected bandits invaded Tungan-Bako village in Rafi Local Government Area and abducted people working on a farm.

The police report indicated that about 14 of the victims were students of an Islamiya school who had been assisting their instructor in harvesting maize. 

It said joint security operations to rescue the victims were ongoing, though villagers maintained that only local vigilantes were present on the ground.

The students abducted while harvesting maize on the farm were 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 and Hajara Salisu.