The bandits who abducted 15 students of an Islamiya school in Tungan-Bako village, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, have demanded more than ₦100 million for their release, the students’ teacher, Malam Aminu Bako, has disclosed.
Bako, whose students were abducted while assisting him on his farm during maize harvesting at the weekend, said the kidnappers contacted village leaders and demanded the ransom.
He also released the names of the abducted children and called on the authorities to launch an urgent military operation to secure their freedom.
The teacher lamented that neither the school nor the victims’ families had received practical support for the rescue operation, apart from efforts by local vigilantes.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP, Bako said the acting Chairman of Rafi Local Government Area and the Divisional Police Officer were the only government officials who had visited since the incident.
He added that residents had largely been left to depend on vigilantes, who were using local intelligence to track the abductors.
According to him, information gathered by the vigilantes suggested that the children were still being held somewhere in Niger State, inside an isolated building guarded by heavily armed bandits.
Bako said military intervention was necessary to 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 also disclosed that he had been under pressure from the parents, who were concerned about the safety and welfare 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.
A parent, Malam Adamu, confirmed the ransom demand, explaining that the bandits initially believed the abducted children attended government schools rather than an Islamiya school.
He said the kidnappers demanded more than ₦100 million after being told that the victims were pupils of government schools, but were subsequently informed that they attended an Islamiya school.
Adamu appealed to the Niger State Government to intervene and provide additional security support.
“This is not the time to leave us to only the vigilantes,” he said.
The state Commissioner for Homeland Security, Justin Maurice Magaji, could not be reached for comments as he and other government officials were attending a State Executive Council meeting.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attack to LEADERSHIP.
Abiodun said suspected bandits invaded Tungan-Bako village and abducted people working on a farm.
According to the police spokesperson, preliminary information indicated that about 14 of the victims were Islamiya school students who had accompanied their instructor to harvest maize.
He assured that joint security operations were ongoing to rescue the abducted persons, although some villagers maintained that local vigilantes were the only personnel actively searching for the victims.
The teacher provided the following names of the 15 abducted students:
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
