By Kyomugisha Rebecca
Gunmen took 37 students from a forestry college in Nigeria’s Kaduna state on March 11, 2021 and previously released 10 of them.
Kidnappers have released the remaining 27 students they had held captive for nearly two months after abducting them from a forestry college in North West Nigeria.
“The Kaduna State Police Command has reported to the Kaduna State Government, the release of the remaining students of the Federal college of Forestry Mechanization”, Local state security official Samuel Aruwan said in a statement on Wednesday
The newly released students arrived at Police headquarters in Kaduna City on Wednesday night looking frustrated, tattered and wearing dirty, torn clothes.
One female student could not walk on her own and was carried into the building, while another was rushed to hospital in critical condition.
Police did not allow Journalists to speak to the released students neither did it allow parents to see them not until they receive medical checks before being released on Thursday.
President Muhammadu Buhari releases a statement that welcomed the release of the 27 students.
Aruwan said in a statement that the Government rejoiced with the freed students and called on them to “put the past behind and work hard towards a happier and successful future ahead”.
Kadura Governor, Nasir el-Rufai has reportedly said his state Government will not negotiate with “bandits”, as the criminal gangs are known or pay them ransoms.
Negotiations between the kidnappers and some prominent people of Nigeria were made but no one has so far commented on whether a ransom was paid.
