Uncertainty surrounds reported release of abducted Kagara students, staff

The reported release of the abducted 27 students and 15 staff of Government Science College, Kagara, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger has continued to be shrouded in uncertainty.

Recall that it was widely reported on Sunday evening that the abducted students and staff members have been released just like the 18 passengers of the state transport company, NSTA who were abducted on their way back to Minna from Kotongora.

The state government had raised hope on Sunday, when it announced that the Kagara school abductees have been released.

The state Governor, Sani Bello, other top officials of the state government and parents of the abductees, were at the Government House Minna,  waiting to receive the abductees.

Hope were however dashed when at about 11.40pm, Governor Abubakar Bello told the parents that the abducted students and workers were still in captivity.

He said: “We still have the students of Kagara in the hands of the bandits and everything is being done to secure their release soonest.”

Hope’s had been high for the release of the students and staff of the college on Sunday, after respected Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi said in an interview on Saturday that they would be released on Sunday.

The 18 passengers of NSTA, who are members of the same family, were however lucky as they regained freedom after a week in captivity.
They were abducted on Sunday, 14 February at Yakila village in the Rafi Local Government Area of the state.