Suspected bandits who abducted 15 Islamiya school students and their teacher in Niger State have reportedly demanded more than ₦100 million for their release.
The abducted students were reportedly seized while assisting their teacher, identified as Malam Aminu Bako, with maize harvesting on his farm in Tungan-Bako village, Rafi Local Government Area of the state.
Bako disclosed that the kidnappers contacted village leaders on Wednesday evening, demanding a ransom exceeding ₦100 million before the victims could regain their freedom.
The teacher also raised concerns over the safety of the abductees, alleging that neither the state government nor relevant authorities had provided meaningful assistance towards securing their release.
According to him, the school and affected families have largely depended on local vigilantes to gather information about the whereabouts of the victims.
Bako said intelligence gathered by the vigilantes suggested that the abducted children were still being held somewhere within Niger State, reportedly in an isolated building guarded by heavily armed men.
He appealed to the military and other security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims.
“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 lamented that parents of the abducted children had been mounting pressure on the school over the incident, while expressing disappointment over the alleged absence of adequate government intervention.
“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,” Bako added.
A parent of one of the victims, identified as Malam Adamu, also confirmed the ransom demand, explaining that the kidnappers initially believed the children attended government-owned 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,” he said.
Adamu appealed to the Niger State Government to intervene urgently and provide the necessary security assistance to secure the children’s freedom.
“This is not the time to leave us to only the vigilantes,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command confirmed the abduction, saying suspected bandits invaded Tungan-Bako village and kidnapped several people working on a farm.
The police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed that approximately 14 of the abducted victims were Islamiya school students who had accompanied their instructor to harvest maize.
He said joint security operations involving relevant agencies were ongoing to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
However, residents reportedly maintained that local vigilantes remained the only security personnel actively searching for the abductees in the area.
The abducted students were identified as 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.
The incident has heightened concerns over the security situation in Niger State, particularly the continued attacks on rural communities and the abduction of schoolchildren.
