The Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello has promised to hunt down the abductors of the Tegina Islamiya Pupils for necessary measures .
The governor stated this on Friday when he received the pupils released by bandits in government house Minna, Niger state Capital
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, who appreciated the efforts of security personnel and other stakeholders contributed to the release of the abductees, expressed concern over the callous manner at which the bandits operate.
“A total of 91puoils and 2 other people were kidnapped out of which 92 regained their freedom but unfortunately lost one of the children”. added Gov Bello
“I cannot explain or imagine why you should abduct a innocent 3-year-old child and keep him or her for over 80 days”.
The Niger state Governor who further assured that the government will do whatever it takes to bring perpetrators to justice, mentioned that the children have been medically examined and declared fit to join their families except for 4 of them that will require more medical attention.
While addressing the media, Mallam Abubakar Al’hassan the head teacher of the Salihu Tanko Islamiya School Tegina, who did not disclosed the amount paid for ransom appreciated the effort of the state government and other stakeholders for the released of his pupils.
Mallam Alhassan however said that the management of the Islamiya school has already taken all necessary action required for the safety of the pupils and conducive atmosphere for learning.
Hajia Habiba Aliyu who’s five children were among the abductees, was among many parent from Tegina , who rushed down to the Niger state government house to have a glimpse of their children released from captivity.
She said they’ve been having sleepless nights for the period their children were in with the abductors.
‘‘It’s not easy for one to lose five children at a time and expect him to be normal, we just referred everything to Allah and with constant prayers and submission to him we were assured they will come back, and here we are today rejoicing for their freedom ”.
Zuwaira Isa, is one of the pupils that regained freedom from the abductors den, she narrated that they trekked for 4 days in the forest before arriving a particular destination.
”Motor cycles were used to conveyed the very little ones amongst us, though we the ladies were not sexually molested, they feed us with rice daily, but we were subjected to thorough beating every day both in the morning and evening”
Parents and sympathizers of the abducted Salihu Tanko Islamiya School pupils, were in Niger State Government house in the morning hours of Friday waiting to received their children freed from the abductors den.
The Children who were brought to the state capital in a convoy of security on Friday morning, looking feeble and malnourished, went through medical checks in a private hospital in Minna the Niger State capital for thorough and proper medical examination.
The Islamic school pupils who were kidnapped on the 30th of May, 2021 spent over 3 months in the hands of their abductors before regaining their freedom after series of negotiation for the ransom paid.
Niger state and other state in North central and North western part of Nigeria, have been engulfed in series of attacks by bandits that resulted to forceful migration of many peasant farmers from their rural communities to the state capital for safety.
