Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi says the 42 abducted Kagara students and staff could be freed today.
He stated this on Saturday, few days after meeting the bandits behind the kidnapping.
Recall that bandits in military fatigues early Wednesday morning invaded Government Science College (GSC), Kagara in Rafi local government area of Niger State.
The assailants whisked away 27 students, 3 staff and 12 members of their family into the bush.
However, Sheikh Gumi said that information at his disposal showed that the bandits were ready to release their victims today.
, “What I hear from (our contact) is that they are still negotiating to release them (schoolchildren and staff members) and hopefully, hopefully, we will get them tomorrow (Sunday), hopefully.
“Up till now, they have not been able to identify the boys, who (did the kidnapping). You know they are splinter groups. So, when you are dealing with groups like that in a vast area, with no communication, no road, then it has to be slow. But the main actors are ready to negotiate and stop the kidnapping altogether,” Sheikh Gumi told Sunday Punch.
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The cleric insisted that ransom payment was not involved in the negotiation for the release of the abducted staff and students.
He stated that the bandits were not asking for money but for the government to release their comrades in detention.
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