FIVE students of the Federal University Dutsin Ma, Katsina State, who were abducted over two months ago, have been freed by their captors.
This was disclosed by the University vice-chancellor, Armaya’u Bichi, on Friday, December 15, while briefing journalists in the state.
According to Bichi, a voice recording aired by DW Hausa said four of the five students were released on Friday, while the other one had managed to escape a few days after the abduction.
The ICIR reported that on October 3, suspected bandits abducted five female students of the university.
It was gathered that the students were abducted from their residence behind Mariamoh Ajiri Memorial International School, along Tsaskiya Road, around 3am on Wednesday, October 4.
Meanwhile, briefing journalists on the students’ release, the vice chancellor said the students were on their way home and would be taken to the hospital for a medical checkup.
“Today (Friday), with the help of God, the students have been released. The students are on their way home but would be taken to Abuja to meet the National Security Adviser where they would also be taken to the hospital for medical checkup after which they would be handed over to their families,” Bichi said.
Bichi further attributed the students’ freedom to the efforts of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
“No money was paid before their release. Neither the government nor the families of the abducted students paid money before the release of the students. It was the efforts of the National Security Adviser. He knows the effort he made to ensure the release of the students. You know it’s a security issue, and we’ll not be making it public,” he said.
The abduction of the FUDMA students came a few weeks after The ICIR reported that over 20 female students of Federal University Gusau, Zamfara state were abducted by bandits.
The bandits invaded the students’ private hostels in the Sabon-Gida community of the Bungudu local government area of the state in the early hours of Friday, September 22. Sabon-Gida is a few meters away from the university.
Sources in the school disclosed to The ICIR that the bandits kidnapped an estimated 25 students (largely female students) before the Nigerian Army rescued 13.
The Nigerian Army has since rescued other affected students.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M