Niger Abductions: Bandits demand N110million ransom

Bandits have demanded N110millipn ransom for the release of 156 Islamiyya students abducted in Niger state.

Recall that the students of Salihu Tanko islamiyya school were abducted in Tegina town in Rafi LGA on Sunday.

The headmaster of the school, Abubakar Alhassan, told journalists on Wednesday that the abductors had contacted the school to demand the ransom on Monday.

He also said the bandits confirmed having a total of 156 students in their custody.

He said the bandits threatened to kill all the children in captivity if they fail to pay the demanded ransom.

“I was baffled when the kidnappers declared to me that the sum of N110m should be paid to secure the release of the pupils and threatened to kill all the children if the money is not paid by the end of yesterday,(Tuesday), he said.

However, the chief press secretary to Niger governor, the state government, Mary Noel-Berje, said it would not pay ransom to the bandits but would consider negotiations.

“We don’t pay ransom to abductors. We are trying to negotiate to see how we can bring them back safely,” her statement partly read.