A group of unidentified terrorists has demanded a staggering N1 billion ransom for the safe release of 286 schoolchildren and staff members kidnapped from LEA Primary School in Kaduna.
Alongside this demand, the terrorists have issued a dire threat, vowing to end the lives of the hostages if their demands are not met within 20 days.
The abduction took place on March 7 in the town of Kuriga, marking the first mass kidnapping in Nigeria since 2021.
According to Reuters, Jubril Aminu, a community leader serving as a spokesman for the families of the hostages, received a call from the kidnappers on Tuesday.
“The terrorists made a total of a 1 billion (naira) ransom demand for all the pupils, students and staff of the school,” Aminu said.
“They gave an ultimatum to pay the ransom within 20 days, effective from the date of the kidnap. They said they will kill all the students and the staff if the ransom demand is not met.”
Idris Ibrahim, an elected representative from the Kuriga Ward municipal council, corroborated the ransom demand and specified the amount requested.
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“Yes, the kidnappers called the community through Jubril Aminu’s number and made the demand,” he said.
“They called from a hidden number but the authorities are working on getting the number,” Ibrahim said
He added that the security forces were taking “adequate measures” to secure the release of the students.
Samuel Aruwan, the commissioner of internal security and home affairs in Kaduna State, did not respond immediately to requests for comment regarding the kidnappers’ demands.
Requests for comment from spokespersons for Bola Tinubu and the army also went unanswered.
The country’s information minister, Mohammed Idris, addressed reporters on Wednesday, stating that Tinubu’s stance on the Kuriga kidnappings was firm: security forces should secure the release of the hostages without succumbing to the kidnappers’ demands for payment.
“The president has instructed that security agencies must swiftly ensure the safe return of the abducted children and individuals, without entertaining any ransom demands.”
During Tinubu’s tenure, legislation was enacted to penalize those who pay ransoms for the release of hostages, as kidnappings in Nigeria continued to rise in frequency.
