Bandits Demand ₦100m Ransom For Abducted Niger Schoolgirls, Teacher Releases Names
Bandits who abducted 15 pupils of an Islamic school in Tungan-Bako village, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, have reportedly demanded more than ₦100 million for their release.
The school’s teacher, Malam Aminu Bako, disclosed that the kidnappers contacted village leaders on Monday evening to demand the ransom, raising fears among the families of the abducted children.
Bako also released the names of the 15 students and appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to launch an urgent military operation to rescue them.
He said intelligence gathered by local vigilantes indicated that the victims were still being held in an isolated building within Niger State, reportedly guarded by heavily armed bandits.
“We heard that they were still within Niger State, locked in a building, probably without food. We are worried; we want the authorities to come to our aid to rescue them,” he said.
The teacher lamented that neither the school nor the victims' families had received meaningful assistance from the state government since the abduction, apart from the efforts of local vigilantes.
He said the acting chairman of Rafi Local Government Area and the Divisional Police Officer were the only government officials who had visited the community.
Bako added that he had been under pressure from parents demanding updates on the safety of their children.
A parent, Malam Adamu, confirmed the ransom demand, explaining that the bandits initially believed the abducted children were pupils of government schools before being informed that they attended an Islamic school.
He appealed to the Niger State Government to provide urgent security assistance, insisting that the community could not rely solely on vigilantes to secure the children's freedom.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in Niger State, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed that suspected bandits invaded Tungan-Bako village and abducted people working on a farm.
He said police reports indicated that about 14 of the victims were Islamic school pupils who had accompanied their instructor to harvest maize.
Abiodun, however, assured that joint security operations were ongoing to rescue the abducted victims.
The state Commissioner for Homeland Security, Justin Maurice Magaji, could not be reached for comments as he was attending a State Executive Council meeting with other officials.
The abducted students were identified as:
- Hassana Isah
- Aliya Ahmad
- Hajara Musa
- Hauwa’u Abubakar
- Halima Yahaya
- Asma’u Jamilu
- Radiya Salisu
- Aminatu Salisu
- Aisha Bello
- Rahinatu Sani
- Aminatu Alhassan
- Nafisa Ayuba
- Bilkisu Adamu
- Salaha Abdullahi
- Hajara Salisu
