Latest On Niger Islamic School Abduction: Some Of The Bandits Are In Our Custody – State Govt. Says

…Says abducted children to be rescued soon

BY ILIYA GARBA, MINNA – The Niger State Government has confirmed the arrest of some bandits about 48 hours after 200 Children from the Salihu Tanko Islamic, Tegina in Rafi Local Government Area of the state were abducted.

This is however coming on the heels of more attacks on some communities in the state by deadly armed bandits in the last 24 hours that succeeded in killing four people and injuring several others.

In one of the attacked villages, Companin Bobi in Mariga Local Government Area of the state, bandits in their large numbers attacked and dispossessed people of their belongings, including food stuff and other valuables.

Four persons identified as traders were killed during the invasion which took place around 6:00am on Tuesday morning.

The state government which announced the arrest of some of the bandits, did not however disclose the number of the bandits arrested.

Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso told newsmen in Minna while giving update on the school children’s abduction that “some of the bandits are in our custody”.

Ketso, who spoke shortly after presiding over a two hours security meeting at the Government House, Minna, said the security agents are already on trail of the bandits with a view to rescue the children.

The Deputy Governor rule out payment of any ransom, but assured that the abducted children will be rescued the same way the Kagara Science School boys were rescued.

In the words of Ketso; “We don’t pay ransom to abductors. We are trying to negotiate to see how we can bring them back safely.

“But first of all, we are trying to get in touch with the parents of those abducted because some of them came from other states to acquire the Islamic knowledge. The government does not know their parents nor where they came from.

“We are still taking the census of the children to know the exact number that were actually abducted. Nevertheless, the government will do everything possible to ensure their safe rescue,” the deputy governor assured.

Ketso admitted that the abductors of the school children took the government unaware, saying that due to the incessant attack on schools, the state government took some proactive measures by temporarily converting all boarding schools to day schools.

He further said; “The government made sure that every primary and secondary school in the state has a semblance of the security team that can respond immediately”.