By SHOJOBI ABISOLA

Parents of the 136 kidnapped pupils of Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School, Tegina, Niger State, who were abducted two months ago, are battling to raise close to N3million to meet the latest demand of the bandits.

The bandits have reportedly demanded six Honda motorcycles as a condition to set the children free.

The children were abducted on May 30, 2021, in their school and have been held captive by the bandits despite allegedly collecting about N55 million ransom from parents.

It was gathered that the parents had already contributed and sent about N55M to the bandits in ramson but they held onto the children and added the motorcycles as the latest demand from their families.

Initially, it was learnt that the families of the abductees and the school sold their landed properties to raise the first ransom of N25million but, instead of releasing the captives, the bandits placed another demand of N30million, which was also contributed and taken to their hideout in the forest.

However the bandits reneged on their promise over a shortfall of N4.5million on the ransom and demanded for the motorcycles.

The parents said initially they gathered N25million which was delivered to the bandits at the designated location but, they later claimed that the ransom did not get them.

However, the Niger State Government, through the Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Matane, had remained adamant on its position of ruling out payment of ransom to bandits in securing the freedom of the abducted children in the state.

He said, ‘We know the location where they (pupils) are; we do not want to apply force. We are very careful of any situation; we do not want to hurt the children while resorting to military action. We are taking time to evaluate ongoing negotiations with the bandits in order to prevent collateral damage.” (Saturday Independent)

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