Why Tegina, Yauri Students Are Still In Captivity

No fewer than 136 school pupils were kidnapped from Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School in Tegina on May 30. Another set of gunmen stormed FGC Yauri in Kebbi State from where they abducted 80 students on June 17.

Daily Trust gathered that Ali Kachalla, the bandit’s kingpin holding the Tegina pupils has refused to release the children even after collecting N50 million ransom from their parents. Instead, he introduced fresh demand for six motorcycles but the distraught parents say they could not raise any more money to meet the fresh demand.

Kachalla, it was also gathered, has refused entreaties from Fulani leaders engaged as mediators to secure the release of the pupils who have been in the kidnappers’ den for almost 90 days.

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“A three-man delegation went to meet him but on learning of their arrival, he avoided going to his house for many days until the old men left in frustration,” said a source involved in the process, who also described Kachalla as “merciless and cantankerous”.

Abductor insists on swapping Yauri students with 5 bandits

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While parents battle for the release of the kidnapped Tegina Islamiyya pupils, the fate of over 70 FGC Yauri students hangs as the bandits’ arrowhead who kidnapped them, Dogo Gide, insists that he would only free the students in exchange for five of his men arrested by security agents.

Security sources told Daily Trust that Gide has not asked for ransom for the students despite overtures.

“He said he was not looking for money. His only demand is that government should release five of his men as condition for the release of the students,” the source said, describing the condition as stringent considering its implication.

A source familiar with the ongoing talks said a process has been initiated to perfect the release after stormy discussions among security agencies on the modalities.

“It is a tough decision agreeing to accede to demands of criminals, but arguments were also made about the fate of the innocent students who could be wasted by the madmen,” the said source.

It was gathered that Gide, who was saddened by the capture of his lieutenants, initially abducted three people, including a Chinese man from a quarry in Niger State, to press for the release of his men.

“The company reached out and explained to him that they were not government workers, so they had to offer a ransom. But even after collecting ransom he released only two persons and withheld the Chinese man.

“However, it appears that he decided to release the last one as he was becoming infirm from long incarceration, though he (Gide) had threatened to kill him if no more money was paid,” our source said.

The source said it was after this that he decided to raid the school in Yauri, believing it was the best way to press for his demand on government.

Since the abduction of students from Government Science School Kankara, bandits have increasingly targeted schools in troubled communities, leading to the closure of schools in Kaduna, Zamfara and Katsina states.

Kidnappers of Bethel students insist on N80m ransom

Also, forty-five days since over 100 students of Bethel Baptist High School in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State were abducted, about 80 of the students are still in captivity while the bandits are demanding N80 million for their freedom.

Daily Trust reports that 28 of the students regained their freedom on July 25 after their abductors allegedly collected N50 million as ransom. Since then, some of the students have escaped the bandits’ den in twos and threes but sources within the school say at least 80 of the students are still in captivity.

The gunmen had earlier demanded each parent to raise N500, 000 for the release of their wards who are between the ages of 10 and 17.

However,  since July 25, none of the students has been released even though the bandits had earlier promised to release them in batches.

A parent whose child is still in captivity told Daily Trust that the school management had cautioned them from speaking with journalists but said the bandits were demanding for N80 million to free the remaining students.

“We have been asked once again to contribute at least N300, 000 each but many of us cannot afford it, we have resorted to prayers, God will free our children,” she said.