In a distressing development from northern Nigeria, gunmen have taken 286 individuals hostage, comprising students and staff from a local school in Kuriga, Kaduna State. This incident, marking the first mass abduction in the nation since 2021, has thrown the community into turmoil. The abductors have issued a ransom demand of 1 billion naira ($620,432), setting a 20-day ultimatum for its fulfillment or threatening the lives of those captured.
A Dire Demand
The kidnappers conveyed their demands through a phone call to Jubril Aminu, a community leader and spokesperson for the affected families. The demand encompasses a total sum for the release of all captured, posing a significant challenge to the community and authorities. Idris Ibrahim, a local councilor, confirmed the demand, indicating that efforts to trace the call and take necessary actions for the hostages’ release are underway. Despite the urgency, responses from high-level officials, including President Bola Tinubu and military spokespeople, remain pending.
Samuel Aruwan, commissioner of internal security and home affairs in Kaduna State, did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment about the kidnappers’ demands.
Spokespeople for President Bola Tinubu and the army also did not respond to requests for comment.
The country’s information minister, Mohammed Idris, told reporters on Wednesday that Tinubu’s position on the kidnappings in Kuriga was that security forces should secure the hostages’ release without any payment to the kidnappers.
“The president has directed that security agencies must as a matter of urgency ensure that these children and all those who have been kidnapped are brought back to safety and also in the process ensure that not a dime is paid for ransom.”
A National Challenge
This kidnapping underscores a broader issue plaguing Nigeria, where such incidents have become increasingly frequent. The nation’s approach to handling kidnappings has evolved, with recent legislation under Tinubu’s predecessor imposing jail time for ransom payments. President Tinubu’s administration has reiterated a firm stance against ransom payments, directing security forces to ensure the hostages’ safe return without financial concessions. This policy aligns with broader efforts to address and curtail the kidnapping crisis, emphasizing the recovery of victims through strategic operations rather than financial transactions.
The ransom amount, significantly exceeding the annual per capita income in Nigeria, highlights the economic strains such kidnappings impose on families and communities. With security forces mobilized and a clear directive from the president, the nation watches closely, hoping for a resolution that brings the hostages home safely while navigating the complex dynamics of ransom demands and anti-kidnapping legislation.
Source: ReutersÂ
