Gunmen who abducted 287 students and teachers from the LEA Primary School and the Government Secondary School in Kuriga, Kaduna State, last week have demanded N1 billion for their release.
The kidnappers have given a deadline of March 27, 2024, for the payment of the ransom.
The Herald understands that on Wednesday, the bandits contacted a spokesperson for the families of the hostages on Tuesday to make their demand.
Jubril Aminu, acting as the spokesperson, revealed that the kidnappers demanded N1 billion ransom for the release of all the abducted pupils, students, and staff members.
Aminu stated, “They made a total of N1 billion ransom demand for all the pupils, students, and staff of the school. They gave an ultimatum to pay the ransom within 20 days, effective from the date of the kidnap (March 7). They said they would kill all the students and the staff if the ransom demand is not met.”
Confirming the ransom demand, Idris Ibrahim, the councillor representing Kuriga Ward in the Chikun Local Government, acknowledged that the kidnappers had indeed contacted the community through Aminu’s number. He also assured that the security forces were taking adequate measures to secure the release of the students.
However, tension and fear have gripped the Kuriga community following the demand for such a large ransom. With most residents unable to afford such a hefty sum, concerns are mounting about the fate of the abducted students and teachers.
Idris expressed the community’s appeal to the Kaduna State Government for assistance, stating that the residents were already struggling with the economic challenges before the incident occurred. While addressing the situation, Muhammad Lawal Shehu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Kaduna State Governor, assured that the governor was committed to rescuing the abducted children.
He revealed that the governor had met with the National Security Adviser regarding the Kuriga community.
However, Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s directive that no ransom should be paid for the release of the hostages.