There are very strong feelers that the students of Government Science College, Kagara in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, have been released.
But in a swift riposte an official of the Niger State Government confirmed to an online newspaper that they had yet to be released but expressed optimism that their release was in the offing.
Earlier, Tmthey were reportedly released Thursday night to a prominent Islamic Cleric, Sheik Gumi, who has been in the vanguard of grant of amnesty by the Federal Government to the bandits.
Although, Sheik Gumi met with some bandits to firm up negotiation and release of the students and others, both parties had yet to get beyond preliminary talks.
An official confirmation has yet to be made by the Niger State Government and the Federal Government on this development.
There were reports that the Niger State Government had launched into a series of top-level meetings since Friday morning. A press conference on the issue was also said to have been held.
Further clarifications and confirmation have now been released.
In fact, the situation became clearer about noon on Friday that the abducted students had yet to be released, although the process was on as of the time the report of the students’ release began to do the rounds.
Significantly, Sheik Gumi is at the centre of the negotiation and process expected to lead to the expected release of the abducted students and others.
Everyday.ng reported a top Niger State government official to have said while the government was optimistic the students, teachers and family members of the Government Science College, Kagara, would be released soon, after overtures by cleric, Sheik Gumi, they were not in receipt of any of the kidnapped persons.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and Sheik Gumi, according to reports, had corroborated the position at a joint press briefing in Minna, the Niger State capital.
“As I speak with you, nothing has changed”, the official said, debunking earlier reports.
The head of the bandits’ group, one Dogo, is said to have told the negotiating team of Gumi and government officials that they had no information on the group that picked the kagara students, while admitting they knew those who picked 47 travellers.
“They also said something about having hundreds in captivity and will release them soon,” a knowledgeable source, was quoted by Everyday.ng to have said.
There are suggestions that the Gumi/government negotiating team is cautious about letting out much so as not to jeopardize their work.
Gumi has been quoted to have said the bandits might release the students and others, soon.
In the last six days alone at least 60 others have been captured by bandits in the troubled state.
They include 47 travellers on the Zungeru – Minna highway and others picked from Gurmana ward of Shiroro LGA.
▪︎Photos released last night showed Gumi meeting with the bandits, who were heavily armed. Government officials were also at the meeting and photos of Gumi’s meeting with Dogo and his group of armed bandits
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