Students of the College Of Agriculture and Animal Science Bakura, Zamfara State, abducted on August 15, have regained their freedom.
This was confirmed by the state Governor, Bello Matawalle after the students were released on Friday.
According to Matawalle, the students’ return was facilitated by repentant bandits who worked hard for almost 10 days to make sure that they convinced the criminals to release the students and their teachers.
The students were brought to the Government House in Gusau in a bus amid heavy security and were received by the governor and top officials of the state.
Governor Matawalle, however, said that no ransom was paid for their release.
Gunmen had stormed the institution around 11:00 pm on august 15 and kidnapped 20 people – 15 students, four staff members, and a driver.
During the attack, the gunmen also killed two watchmen and a police officer.
Days later, amid outrage and condemnation of yet another attack on schools in the country, the abductors demanded the sum of N350 million for the release of those abducted.
Meanwhile, the governor has ordered the closure of all major markets in the state.
He also ordered that all filling stations in local areas be shut down, and there should be no selling of fuel even in jerry cans.
Similarly, in Kaduna state, 32 students out of the 63 remaining abducted students of Bethel Baptist school in Chikun Local Government area of Kaduna State have regained their freedom.
According to reports from the school, the students were set free on Friday and have been handed over to their parents.
The kidnappers had on July 5 attacked the school and took away 121 students from their hostels.
The bandits released 28 of them on July 25, after a ransom was allegedly paid to the kidnappers.
On August 22, 15 more of the students were released by their captors.
At least 90 of the students have now regained their freedom while 31 remain in captivity.
Both stories come after 93 kidnapped students of an Islamic school who were recently freed after three months in the den of kidnappers arrived at the Niger State Government House.
They were released on Thursday and the government subsequently made arrangements for them to be brought to the capital, Minna.
Upon arrival, they were greeted by their parents and government officials, all cheerful for their safety.
The gunmen had abducted the students from their school in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State on May 30, and it is yet to be assertained if ransom was paid.
