Nigerian authorities announce the safe release of more than 280 students who were kidnapped in Koriga city in the northwest of the country earlier this month.
Publish dateMonday 25 March 2024 - 09:47
Story Code : 287787
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - International Service: Nigerian authorities say that more than 280 students who were kidnapped in Koriga city in the northwest of the country earlier this month have been released "safely".
The governor of Kaduna state, Oba Sani, did not provide more details about the release of the children, but their release came just days after the kidnappers' deadline for ransom.
These children, whose ages range from 8 to 15, were kidnapped along with a teacher on March 7.
Kidnapping gangs, known as bandits, have abducted thousands of people in recent years, especially in northwestern Nigeria. However, over the past year and prior to this latest case, mass child abductions had decreased.
Kidnapped people are usually released after paying a ransom.
In the recent case, the kidnappers demanded $690,000 for the release of these children, which the Nigerian government said it would not pay. This mass kidnapping happened on the morning of March 7 during the school's morning ceremony.
According to witnesses, the students were gathered in the school around 8:30 am local time when dozens of armed men entered the school on motorcycles and kidnapped 187 students from a secondary school and 125 students from a primary school, of which 25 They then went back to school.
In this incident, a student, who is believed to be 14 years old, was killed by gunmen.
In his statement, Mr Sani thanked Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for "ensuring that the kidnapped students are released safely".
He also said that "the Nigerian Army also deserves special recognition because it has shown with courage, determination and commitment that it can humiliate criminal elements and restore security to our society."
Most of the kidnappings in northwestern Nigeria, including Kaduna state, are believed to be the work of gangs trying to make money from extortion.
In 2022, in an effort to curb kidnapping in Nigeria, a controversial law was passed that criminalized the payment of ransom and carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, however to date no one has been arrested for the crime.
The governor of Kaduna state, Oba Sani, did not provide more details about the release of the children, but their release came just days after the kidnappers' deadline for ransom.
These children, whose ages range from 8 to 15, were kidnapped along with a teacher on March 7.
Kidnapping gangs, known as bandits, have abducted thousands of people in recent years, especially in northwestern Nigeria. However, over the past year and prior to this latest case, mass child abductions had decreased.
Kidnapped people are usually released after paying a ransom.
In the recent case, the kidnappers demanded $690,000 for the release of these children, which the Nigerian government said it would not pay. This mass kidnapping happened on the morning of March 7 during the school's morning ceremony.
According to witnesses, the students were gathered in the school around 8:30 am local time when dozens of armed men entered the school on motorcycles and kidnapped 187 students from a secondary school and 125 students from a primary school, of which 25 They then went back to school.
In this incident, a student, who is believed to be 14 years old, was killed by gunmen.
In his statement, Mr Sani thanked Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for "ensuring that the kidnapped students are released safely".
He also said that "the Nigerian Army also deserves special recognition because it has shown with courage, determination and commitment that it can humiliate criminal elements and restore security to our society."
Most of the kidnappings in northwestern Nigeria, including Kaduna state, are believed to be the work of gangs trying to make money from extortion.
In 2022, in an effort to curb kidnapping in Nigeria, a controversial law was passed that criminalized the payment of ransom and carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, however to date no one has been arrested for the crime.
avapress.com/vdcivyaryt1avy2.ilct.html
Tags
Top hits
