Abducted Katsina university students regain freedom after 30 days in terrorists’ den

• The father of one of the abductees confirmed the release was of the students on Thursday

Terrorists have released students of Al-Qalam University in Katsina State who were abducted in in January.

The victims are Habiba Shatali, a 200-level of Political Science student, Mariam Musa, a 400-level Microbiology student and Yusuf Abdulazeez, a 400-level Mathematics student.

They were abducted by terrorists, who are wreaking havoc across the northern region, around Kurfi, Dutsinma on January 14, 2024, while returning to school from Minna, the Niger State capital.

The father of one of the abductees confirmed the release of the students on Thursday.

He disclosed that the students regained their freedom on Wednesday night after spending 30 days in the terrorists’ den.

The trio travelled home for the Christmas and New Year break but run into each other at the motor park in Minna where they agreed to travel together back to school.

Unfortunately, they were ambushed by gunmen suspected to be bandits on their way to school.

Eighteen days after the abduction of the students, the parents of two of them – Maryam and Habiba – in a letter to the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Umoru Mohammed Bago, urged him to urgently intervene.

They pleaded with the governor to ensure the release of their children.

“I’m pleased to inform you that my daughter whom had been in captivity over a month had regain her freedom alongside others, yesterday night 14, February, 2024 at about 8pm.

“Both are all in good health as at present,” the father of one of the victims said.

The bandits had contacted the parents and demanded a ransom of N100 million to secure the release of each student but later reduced the ransom figure to N50 million and later down to N25 million.

“The kidnappers have now reduced the ransom and agreed to collect N25 million on each student but till today we have not heard anything from the Katsina State Government and Commissioner of Police. Nobody is talking to us on the matter. As we speak no parents have been able to raise the money.” SaharaReporters quoted a source familiar with the incident as saying.