Bandits that kidnapped 156 students of Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School Tegina in Rafi local government area of Niger State have refused to release them after collecting N20 million from the parents.
The students were abducted in their school on May 30 when hundrends of bandits stormed the town, killing one person.
In June, their abductors demanded N200 million for their release.
The parents of the students resulted to seeking donations from churches and mosques to raise the money, when they realised the government was not forthcoming to meeting the demand of the bandits.
The state government has said it would not pay ransom to bandits, but negotiate for the release of the children.
Seventeen of the children had escaped from captivity.
However, 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE gathered that the parents were able to pay N20 million last week to their children captors, but refused to release them.
It was also gathered that the money was taken to a forest by a committee constituted by the village head.
The Headmaster of the school, Alhassan Abubakar, confirmed that N20 million ransom was paid to the bandits but yet to release the girls, without given reason why.
