Bandits Reduce Ransom For Sick Tegina Kids To N150m
The ransom sought for the release of the children taken from the Tanko Salihu Islamiyya school in Tegina, Niger State, has been cut to N150 million.
In addition, some of the 136 abducted students from Tanko Salihu Islamiyya School in Tegina, Rafi local government area, are said to have become ill while in captivity.
The robbers informed the headmaster of the Islamiyya School, Alhassan Garba Abubakar, of the children’s terrible health, who then informed the Newsmen.
According to him, the bandits who had been demanding N200 million 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 as of Tuesday, 15th June.
NEWS DIRECT learnt some of the parents have been visiting churches and mosques in a bid to raise the money for the ransom.
It’s also gathered that some of the parents are praying and hoping the bandits would further reduce the ransom to something affordable.
The head teacher, who refused to disclose the amount raised so far, said it is still a far cry from the demanded ransom.
“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 donations for the ransom money to be paid; so I cannot tell you the exact amount of money raised so far,” he said.
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 know they would not get it from the government.
