April 23, (THEWILL) – A notorious bandit kingpin, Dogo Daji, has released four of the remaining 11 female students kidnapped when bandits invaded Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri in Kebbi State, on June 17, 2021.
The girls, Faiza Ahmed, Afusat Murtala, Bilahah Musa and Raman Abdulfatahi, were released Friday evening.
According to PRNigeria, two of the released students returned with two babies delivered while in captivity.
Leader of the bandits, Daji had insisted that some conditions must be met by the Kebbi State government before the remaining girls could be released.
According to sources, the ransom had to be generated by parents and other stakeholders when the Kebbi State government was reluctant to meet the bandits’ demands.
The parents had to beg Nigerians to come to their aid financially to rescue their children from their abductors.
In a letter addressed to all Nigerians, the group known as “Committee of Parents of 11 Abducted Students of F.G.G.C Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State, Nigeria”, passionately solicited financial assistance towards raising the sum of N100 million as ransom to be paid to the terrorists, in exchange for their children and wards.
In the letter, the chairman and secretary of the ‘Committee of Parents, Salim Ka’oje and Mr Daniel Alkali, respectively, said their female children (aged between 12-16 years) had been in the custody of their abductors for about 20 months now.
“It took six days of negotiations in the forest before four of the girls were released to us. We have seven more still in captivity and two of the parents are still in the forest trying to secure their release. And the abductors are demanding the sum of N100 million before they release the girls”, they said.
In November last year, it was reported that some of the girls had become teenage mothers, while about four others were pregnant at the time.
While the Police and the Kebbi State Government have not confirmed the release, Chairman of the 11 parents of the abducted children’s Forum Association, Salim Kaoje, confirned the development to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.
Kaoje thanked the people and philanthropists, who supported them throughout their struggle for the release of the children. He appealed to the government to come to the aid of the remaining seven children.
“We contributed millions of Naira to the bandits for the release of those children. Other committee members are still in the bush for the struggle of the release of the remaining seven girls”, he said.
One of the parents, whose daughter was released, Mrs Sarah Musa, expressed appreciation to God for the girls’ safety. She urged the people to pray for the release of the remaining female students.
“Let me tell you now that some of the parents of the remaining girls are no more alive. It is two years since they were abducted. Thank God that my daughter is among those released. We will continue to pray for the release of the remaining ones”, she said.
THEWILL could not confirm if the ransom paid by the parents was up to the N100 million demanded by the bandits.
