Breaking: Kidnappers demand N1bn for release of school hostages within 20 days

 

By Abimbola Tooki

Gunmen who kidnapped 286 students and staff from a school in Kuriga, Kaduna, northern Nigeria last week have demanded a total of N1 billion ($620,432) for their release, a spokesman for the families of the hostages, and a local councillor, told Reuters.

The ransom demand amounts to more than N3 million ($2,000) per hostage, or more than the annual per capita income in Nigeria, according to International Monetary Fund data.

The school children, some older students and members of the school staff were abducted on March 7 in the town of Kuriga, in Nigeria's northwestern Kaduna State, in the first mass kidnapping in the country since 2021.

Jubril Aminu, a community leader who acts as a spokesman for the families of the hostages, said he had received a call on his phone from the kidnappers on Tuesday.

"They made a total of a N1 billion 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 official from the Kuriga Ward municipal council, confirmed the ransom demand and the amount.

"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, Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna State, did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the kidnappers' demands.