After 55 days in captivity, the remaining abducted students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization Afaka in Kaduna have been released.
The students were released on Wednesday and are undergoing medical examinations at a Kaduna health center.
ASP Mohammed Jalige, a spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, announced the students’ release on Wednesday in Kaduna.
On the night of March 12, a total of 39 students were kidnapped from their hostel, but ten of them were later released.
At the time of the assault, the military had engaged the attackers and was able to return 180 workers and students to safety.
The abductors demanded N500 million in ransom in exchange for the students’ release, but the Kaduna State Government stated that it would not negotiate with or pay ransom to bandits or terrorists.
Parents of students have been campaigning for their children’s release and staged a protest at the National Assembly on Tuesday to draw lawmakers’ attention to the issue.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government congratulated the students’ parents on their safe release.
“The government rejoices with the freed students, their families and the management of the institution over this development.
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai charged them to view their ordeal as a motivator to put the past behind and work hard towards a happier and successful future ahead,” Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs said in a statement.
According to the Nigerian News Agency (NAN), the students were released by their kidnappers in the state’s Giwa local government area on Wednesday evening.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
