Kidnappers of 287 Kaduna schoolchildren have demanded a N1 billion ransom, it was learned.
The pupils were kidnapped last week from a public school in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The kidnappers contacted a friend of the school’s principal one Aminu Kuriga, at around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, demanding for the cash.
“One of the abductors called, using a private number. He said they were at the northern fringe of Dansadau (a community in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State) if we bring the amount, all the children will be released.
“We briefed the Kaduna State government about the telephone conversation, they took note and asked us to go,” an anonymous local said.
The location where the bandits asked that the ransom be dropped is part of Kwiambana Game Reserve – a dreaded forest that crosses Nigeria’s North-west and North-central regions.
The larger part of the forest is in Dansadau Emirate in Zamfara State. The Dansadau part covers 492 square kilometres out of the 1180 square kilometres of Zamfara State, which is over one-third of the landmass of the state.
A set of students of the Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, abducted by suspected terrorists last September were moved to the Kwiambana Game Reserve and were yet to be released.
The Kaduna State Government has yet to speak on the development.
But the police spokesperson in the state, Mansir Hassan, said the command was unaware of the development. He said efforts were being made for the release of the children unconditionally.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has vowed not to pay ransom to kidnappers in any part of the country.
Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, said this in Abuja on Wednesday, adding that the president also directed security agencies to ensure the release of all kidnapped victims without the payment of ransom.
“Mr President has also directed that no ransom will be paid by the government to any of these criminal elements. I think it’s important that this be put out there,” the minister said.