Six of 136 students kidnapped from an Islamic school in Tegina, Rafi local government area of Niger State have died of illness while in captivity.
Principal of their school, Abubakar Garba Alhasan made the disclosure on Tuesday, August 24.
Alhassan told Reuters that the kidnappers had called to say the children died from sickness and to urge that the ransom demand be met.
Recall that bandits attacked Salihu Tanko Islamic School in Tegina, Rafi local government area of Niger State on Sunday, May 30, 2021, and kidnapped 136 people, including three teachers.
Read Also: Gunmen Kill 1, Abduct At Least 200 Islamiyya Students In Niger
Following the attack, the bandits demanded N110 ransom to release the students.
The school headmaster, Alhaji Abubakar Alhassan, disclosed this, saying the bandits made contact with the school to demand for the ransom.
Read Also: Bandits Demand N110m Ransom For Tegina Islamiyya School Children
Bandits and other criminal gangs have carried out a series of raids on boarding schools in northern Nigeria in which more than 1,000 students have been abducted since December.
Abubakar Adam, whose seven children are held by the gang, said the abductors called the principal to demand a ransom.
Read Also: Niger Abduction: Kidnappers Releases 11 Students Who Are Young, Couldn’t Walk Long Distance
Kidnappers released 15 more students taken last month from a Baptist school in Kaduna State after parents paid an undisclosed ransom to free them.
President Muhammadu Buhari back in February said his government will be ruthless with terrorists, bandits, and other criminals.
Buhari advised state governments to stop paying ransom to kidnappers who he said use the funds to acquire more weapons.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, whose state has been subjected to multiple attacks, killings, and abduction, strongly opposes the payment of ransom to kidnappers and bandits.
As a result, parents of abducted students have accused the government of not doing enough to protect school children and help victims regain freedom.
