21 children abducted in Katsina farm freed — after six days in captivity

The Katsina police command says 21 children abducted by terrorists while working on a farm in Faskari LGA of Katsina have been rescued.

The Children, comprising of 17 females and four males between the ages of 15 and 18 were abducted on October 30.

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) had condemned the kidnap and urged the federal government to take necessary action to rescue the children.

Gambo Isah, police spokesperson in the state, who confirmed the children’s freedom on Saturday, said they have been reunited with their families.

“It is with great joy that I announce the release of all the 21 abducted workers that were kidnapped while working in a farmland at Kamfanin Mai Lafiya village, Faskari LGA of Katsina state. They have been reunited with their families. Investigation is ongoing please,” he said.

“According to what we have gathered, they were working on somebody’s farm and they were not the only persons working on the farm, there were other workers working on other farms but what we learnt is that the terrorist requested for money, a kind of levy that owners of farms are to pay to them as compensation or ransom.

“What we learnt is that the owner of that particular farm refused to comply with the demand of the terrorists which is right but unfortunately they went and kidnapped the workers on this farm because he has not paid the levy.”

Katsina has been one of the worst-hit states by terrorists in the north-west