Forty Days After, Abducted Greenfield University Students Released

After 40 days in the den of bandits, the remaining 14 students of Greenfield University in Kaduna State that were abducted by gunmen have finally regained freedom.

The students were abducted by the deadly bandits from their hostels on April 20, 2021 and four days later, precisely on April 23, the remains of three of the abducted students were found in Kwanan Bature village, a location close to the university.

The Kaduna Government on April 26, announced that the kidnappers had killed additional two students.

The 14 students were let go on Saturday afternoon at a location on the Kaduna – Abuja highway which has become notorious for kidnappers.

Chairman of the Parents Forum of the University, Mr. Markus Zarmai and other parents were among those that received the students at the drop-off location.

In spite of the fact that the Kaduna State government and the Nigeria Police authorities have not issued a statement to confirm the release of the students, the parents of the abducted students revealed that they had to pay ransom as well as purchased eight new motorcycles for the kidnappers before they agreed to release their children that have experienced excruciating torture and inhuman treatment while in the den of their abductors.

At a meeting held in Kaduna in April, parents of the students appealed to the government and public to help with the N800 million ransom demand by the kidnappers, but the Kaduna State and the Federal Governments discouraged payment of ransom to bandits.

Forefront News was however unable to ascertain if the parents of the released students were able to pay up the N800 million demanded by the kidnappers.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in a statement on May 5, appealed for the release of the students of the Greenfield University.