Kidnappers of the Kaduna school Pupils have threatened to kill the hostages in 20 days, if their demand of a total of 1 billion Naira ($620,432) for the release of the students was not met.
The abductors of the school children, made this known when they contacted a spokesman of the families of the hostages to make the demand. They also vowed to kill the students and staff in 20 days if their demand was not met.
Bandits on March 7, 2024, attacked the Kuriga community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, kidnapping about 286 students including some teachers at the LEA Primary School Kuriga.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday, directed security agencies and the Ministry of Defence that no ransom should be paid by the government to kidnappers, bandits, or any criminal elements for the release of abducted persons.
However, the lives of these students is hanging in the balance, following the kidnappers’ threat that greeted the nation on Tuesday.
Said Jubril Aminu, a community leader who acts as a spokesman for the families of the hostages: “They made a total of a 1 billion (naira) 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. They said they would kill all the students and the staff if the ransom demand was not met”.
Idris Ibrahim, an elected official from the Kuriga Ward municipal council, confirmed the ransom demand and the amount.
Said he: “Yes, the kidnappers called the community through Jubril Aminu’s number and made the demand.
“They called from a hidden number but the authorities are working on getting the number”.
The security forces, he added, were taking “adequate measures” to secure the release of the students.
