The students of Al-Qalam University in Katsina State, who were kidnapped by terrorists in January, have been released.
The news of their release was confirmed by the father of one of the abductees, who stated that the students regained their freedom on Wednesday night after spending 30 days in the terrorists’ captivity.
The victims, Habiba Shatali, a second-year Political Science student, Mariam Musa, a fourth-year Microbiology student, and Yusuf Abdulazeez, a fourth-year Mathematics student, were abducted on January 14, 2024, while returning to school from Minna, the capital of Niger State.
The three friends decided to travel together back to school after spending the Christmas and New Year break at home.
Unfortunately, they were ambushed by gunmen suspected to be bandits on their way.
After eighteen days of their abduction, the parents of two of the students, Maryam and Habiba, wrote a letter to the Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Umoru Mohammed Bago, pleading for his urgent intervention. They begged the governor to help secure the release of their children.
“I’m pleased to inform you that my daughter whom had been in captivity over a month had regain her freedom alongside others, yesterday night 14, February, 2024 at about 8pm.
“Both are all in good health as at present,” the father of one of the victims said.
The bandits reached out to the parents and asked for a payment of N100 million in order to free each student. However, they later lowered the ransom amount to N50 million and then further down to N25 million.
A source, who preferred to remain anonymous while the students were still being held captive, shared told SaharaReporters: “The kidnappers have now reduced the ransom and agreed to collect N25 million on each student but till today we have not heard anything from the Katsina State Government and Commissioner of Police. Nobody is talking to us on the matter. As we speak no parents have been able to raise the money.”
The government’s uncaring and insensitive attitude towards the affected students has been strongly criticized by the public. They are calling for a comprehensive approach to rescuing the victims.
Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, the Secretary of the National Association of Nigerian Students in Niger State, has urged the state government to collaborate with the Katsina State Government to expedite the release of the students who have been held captive for two weeks.
He expressed confidence in the efforts of the Niger State Government to ensure the safe return of the students.
