ABUJA, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The 27 Nigerian students of Government Science College, in Kagara, Niger State that were kidnapped within the school premises by gunmen suspected to be armed bandits in the early hours of Wednesday, have been released.
Local media outlets report claimed that the release took place late in the evening on Thursday, to a foremost Islamic scholar based in Kaduna State, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi and others after much persuasion by the Islamic cleric.
The local Tribune Online portal reported that the students had been held captive in the hideout of the bandits for about 48 hours as at the time of their release.
Reports say the students have been sent to an undisclosed public health facilities for medical checkup in Minna, the state capital in order to ascertain their health status and treatment shortly after they are set free.
It was further learnt that the students gained their freedom after Sheikh Ahmad Gumi had met and dialogued with the leader of the bandits identified as Dogo Gide in conjunction with some of his members after what seems to be a long hours before the two parties could reach a truce.
However, Nigerian officials on Friday said negotiations are still underway between officials and the armed gang that kidnapped 42 people, including 27 children from a boarding school in the Kagara district of Niger state, on Wednesday.
Heavily armed men in military uniforms raided the Government Science College in Kagara, killing one student and spiriting others into a nearby forest.
On Friday, government representatives were in contact “with people holding these students”.
“Any military action could result in unnecessary deaths so the government took a position to first try to see how a peaceful negotiation can bring these children out to safety,” he said, adding that the security forces have pinpointed the kidnappers’ location.
“The state government said it has made contact with these people through the leaders of the communities who they believe know them.”
On Thursday, the Nigeria Police Force said in a statement that a massive search and rescue mission was being carried out along with the military in which helicopters, counterintelligence unit forces and intelligence agents had been deployed.
Niger State government officials have said they believe the attack was carried out by “bandits” – the term used in Nigeria to describe armed gangs who attack communities and kidnap for ransom. — NNN-AGENCIES
