90 Students, Staff Of FGC Regain Freedom In Kebbi

• After four months in abductors’ den

Over 90 kidnapped students and staff of Federal Government College (FGC) in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Kebbi have regained their freedom after spending about 118 days in captivity.

Reports said a father to one of the released students, who preferred anonymity, said they were freed late on Tuesday evening, October 12, 2021.

Though there is no confirmation if the freed students have been reunited with their parents, another guardian hinted that some of them have gotten information about what he described as “cheering and heartwarming news”

Reliable security information indicated that released students had to make their way on foot from the kidnappers’ den in the forest to a point where they were then ferried in an unmarked vehicle to Birnin Kebbi, the state capital

It was further gathered that the arrangement was to have government officials receive the returning students at the state capital.

About four months ago, armed bandits, numbering over 150, had stormed the College in broad daylight, and in the process abducted about 90 students and three members of Staff.

For fear of further attacks, the College was immediately shut down after the incident while parents and guardians of the abducted students called out to the Federal and Kebbi state governments as well as security agencies to ensure their kids were brought back safely from captivity.

As at the time of going to press, the Kebbi state government and the State Police Command were still being expected to issue official statements on the development.

However, a government insider hinted that instructions have already been given to mobilise the medical team that would immediately conduct medical checks on the Students to confirm their health status before reuniting with their parents and guardians.