Abductors of the over 136 students and staff of Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School, Tegina, in the Rafi local government area of Niger state are demanding the sum of N110 million as a ransom for the safe release of the victims.
Daily Mail gathered that the bandits also threatened to kill the victims should the school or their parents fail to meet their demands this week.
The headteacher of the school, Abubakar Alhassan disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday, June 1, adding that the bandits’ call came in about 4:00 pm on Monday, May 31.
Alhassan said contrary to their expectation, the bandits claimed they have a total of 156 people with them made up of pupils and staff.
He said the management of the school has contacted the state government on the latest development but that the government is insisting on not paying ransom to the bandits.
According to reports, parents and relations of the abductees have begun to raise money to take to the bandits. Nigerian Tribune newspaper reports that the Niger state deputy governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso announced that some of the bandits are in the government’s custody.
