Niger Abduction: 11 Students have been released by the abductors

Eleven students who were part of scores kidnapped earlier from an Islamiyya school located at Tegina in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State have been released.

Their release was announced late Sunday evening in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Mary Noel-Berje.

Ms. Noel-Berje noted that the released children were deemed too small and couldn’t walk, and this prompted the kidnappers to release them.

She also stated that Governor Abubakar Sani Bello expressed shock and is saddened by the recent reports of abduction of innocent people by armed bandits in several communities across three Local Government Areas of Rafi, Wushishi, and Bida.

Speaking further on the kidnapping, Governor Bello said it is outrageous that banditry in the state is escalating. He reiterated his emergency call on the Federal Government for prompt intervention.

“The situation has reached crisis level, in fact, it’s a war situation that we have to confront without further delay,” the governor said while noting that the state government is still searching and conducting a house-to-house headcount to ascertain the exact number of children abducted at Tegina.