In a welcome development, the two remaining abducted students of the Federal Government College in Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State have finally been released after 707 days in captivity. This brings to a close the harrowing experience that started on June 17th, 2021, when bandits stormed the school and kidnapped 11 students.
The two girls, Faida Sani Kaoje and Safiya Idris, were reportedly released on the morning of Thursday, the 5th of May. It was gathered that a committee constituted by their families had been negotiating with the bandits’ leadership for their eventual release.
It is sad to note that during their captivity, some of the girls become teenage mothers, while about four others became pregnant. However, two students had previously been released in April 2022 after the payment of a large ransom, four female students with two babies.
Subsequently, three other girls, Elizabeth Ogechi Nwafor, Esther Sunday, and Aliya Abubakar, were released by the bandits on May 7th, 2022.
According to the committee of parents, the bandits had initially demanded a ransom of N100 million, but the amount eventually paid was not disclosed. It was speculated that the Kebbi State government could not meet the bandits’ demand, leading the parents to seek assistance elsewhere.
The release of the final two students is a relief to their families, the school, and Nigeria at large. However, the situation raises concerns about insecurity in the country, particularly in the Northern region, where abductions and other forms of violent crimes are rampant.
All stakeholders must come together to tackle this menace and ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnicity or geographic location.
