Five of the 38 adducted students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, that regained their freedom have been reunited with their parents two days after their release by their abductors.
21st Century Chronicle could not ascertain if ransom was paid before their release even though it was the state government that announced that the students were recovered by the army on Monday.
The released students were brought in a bus to the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs by officials of the state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on Wednesday.
The state Commissioner Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, while addressing the parents of the freed students, told them to take solace for whatever happened to their children, adding that the state government was as worried as them.
He added that the students have undergone thorough medical checks and preliminary psychological evaluation at a military facility, and have been certified physically and mentally stable before being reunited with their parents.
According to Aruwan, Food, clothing and other immediate essentials were equally provided to the students, and they were housed at a shelter for debriefing after they were recovered.
Commissioner Aruwan said the State Governor , Malam Nasir El-Rufai, immediately directed the State Emergency Management Agency and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development to offer direct support with the management of the students after they were recovered.
“ The Kaduna State Government shares deeply in the pain and distress experienced by the parents and families of all the hostages in this difficult time. As such, the Government will continue to work towards the safe return of the students in captivity,” he said .
He added that the Governor has emphasized that the government, parents, students, the school management and all Nigerians have one
common goal, and that is having all the students, and indeed all those in captivity back home, and to work hard towards overcoming this common asymmetric threat.
He appealed to the parents of the remaining students to stay strong, saying Government and security agencies are working patiently and consistently to secure the release of the students and all abducted persons.
Caleb Waziri who spoke on behalf of the Parents of the Five released students said they hope the remaining students in captivity will also regain their freedom as soon as possible.
One of the released Students who spoke shortly after being handed over to his guardian Francis Paul, a 200 level students of the college, said they were poorly fed by the bandit while in the forest.
He explained that they were given dirty water as well as fed twice a day even though he said the food was never enough.
He described his experience as very bad, saying “ I was ill for days because we were given dirty river water and fed twice . The food was never enough for all of us because we Were 39 students in the bush ‘he said.
Asked if any of his female colleagues was sexually molested he said “ None was raped or molested but they beat us the very day we were abducted because they ( bandits) wanted to show to the government they were serious so that the money they requested for will be sent to them,” he said.
It could be recalled that their abductors demanded for 500 million naira ransom which the state government vowed will not pay any ransom to bandits.
