Gunmen who invaded and abducted children of the Tanko Salihu Islamiyya school, Tegina, in Niger State, have slashed the N150 million ransom slammed on them by N50 million.
The gunmen (bandits) now expect N100 million to be paid to them for the release of the students.
Meanwhile, some of the 136 abducted pupils of Tanko Salihu Islamiyya School, Tegina in Rafi local government area, have reportedly taken ill in their captivity due to the vagaries of the weather.
The bandits disclosed the children’s ill health to headmaster of the Islamiyya School, Alhassan Garba Abubakar, who provided the situation report to journalists.
According to him, the bandits who had been demanding for N200 million had said they would accept N150 million as ransom to release the abducted children.
The children were abducted on May 30, 2021 and have been in captivity for 16 days.
The head teacher, who refused to disclose the amount raised so far, said it was still a far cry from the demanded ransom.
Read him: “The amount raised so far has been a far cry from what the bandits are demanding before they release the pupils.
”I am not part of the committee of the parents going to churches and mosques to solicit for donations for the ransom money to be paid; so I cannot tell you the exact amount of money raised so far.”
Meanwhile, the Niger State Government has insisted it would not pay any ransom for release of the children.
It also assured parents that plans were underway to rescue the children.
Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Matane, said the government would not pay any ransom to the bandits.
Responding to the ill health of the children, the SSG stated the bandits could use any kind of strategy to make the parents pay the ransom they demanded since they knew they would not get it from the government.
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